Freepress 06-06-14

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FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 VOL. 17, NO. 11 FREE
A PUBLICATION OF ACE III COMMUNICATIONS Serving East Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Tucker and Stone Mountain.
FREEPRESS
See Buck on page 15A
FOLLOW THE MONEY
A series revealing purchases on county-issued P-Cards by DeKalb County Commissioners, ofcials and assistants.
From Smoothie King to iTunes
In DeKalb
We Trust?
See page 12A
by Travis Hudgons
travish@dekalbchamp.com
F
or many, his name alone is synonymous with
DeKalb County football: William Buck
Godfrey.
Hes the winningest football coach in
DeKalb County history. As head football coach at
Southwest DeKalb High for 30 seasons, his record
of 273-89 includes a state championship, a state
runner-up title and 13 regional titles.
And for these and many other accomplish-
ments, Godfrey, along with fve other coaches, was
inducted in the 2014 class of the Georgia Athletic
Coaches Association (GACA) Hall of Fame, May
31, in Dalton. To be inducted, candidates must
have coached high school sports for at least 25
years, with 20 of them in Georgia.
At the induction banquet, Godfrey said its a
great honor to be voted into the GACA Hall of
Fame by ones peers. And he was humbled by the
support and adoration shown to him by his former
players in attendance, some from the frst team he
coached in DeKalb County.
He started out coaching baseball at Gordon
High School, (now DeKalbs McNair Middle
School) from 1974-76. Tat team won 25 games
and advanced deep into the playofs. When schools
began to integrate, Godfrey was moved to Towers
High School to be the football teams ofensive co-
ordinator and the schools frst Black male teacher.
Ultimately he landed at Southwest DeKalb in 1983,
where he became the schools frst Black head foot-
ball coach.
But this is not a tale of wins and losses; Xs and
Os. Godfrey understand that life was more than
sports. Tis molder of men touched many lives
impacting them for the better.
Its surreal to know that this many people, have
been impacted by what my father and mother
taught mejust be a man and a good person,
Godfrey said.
Under Godfrey, 258 athletes have received col-
lege scholarships and 193 former players earned
college degrees.
Tony Shanks was the frst student-athlete to
Beyond
the field
William Buck Godfrey inducted
into the Georgia Athletic Coaches
Association Hall of Fame
William Buck Godfrey stands in front of his Hall of Fame plaque he was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall
of Fame May 31. Photos by Travis Hudgons
After the Hall of Fame banquet, Coach William Buck Godfrey takes a picture with a few of his former players.
Colin Godfrey was his fathers presenter at the Hall
of Fame banquet.
Godfrey receives his award.
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 PAGE 2A
LOCAL NEWS
New LGBTQ organization ofers
safe space for young adults
Georgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation
Hosts the
Everything is FREE but the Food!
FREE FAMILY FUN
Music and Entertainment
Face Painting & Storytelling
Sno-Cones
Balloon Animals
Infatable Funhouse
Tennis Play Day
Tractor Ride
Games
FREE ON-SITE SERVICES
Vital Signs Check
Blood Pressure Check
Blood Sugar Check
Cholesterol Check
Child Safety Seat Checks
Basic Vehicle Service Tips
Child ID Kits
FREE ON-SITE DEMOS
Police K9 Services
EMS Mannequin
Police Explorers
GBI Internet Safety
Rollover Vehicle
AED/CPR
EMS Helicopter
www.gptc.edu
COME
JOIN US!
For more information call:
404-297-9522 x5000
by Lauren Ramsdell
lauren@dekalbchamp.com
The Atlanta area is
known nationally for its
open and vibrant lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender
and queer (LGBTQ) com-
munity. Its considered the
fifth gayest city in America,
according to The Advocate,
a national gay and lesbian
news magazine.
But, according to Gabriel
Haggray, Atlantas vibrant
scene is missing one thing: a
safe space for young adults.
There are some other
organizations, like Lost and
Found [support for home-
less LGBT youth], and oth-
ers that cater to subsets
of youth, but there is not an
Atlanta area organization
catering to all youth, Hag-
gray said.
In April of this year, Hag-
gray and others founded
Real Youth Atlanta, a group
focusing on LGBTQ young
adults and their allies ages
13-25. The organization
hosted around 30 people for
their first eventa picnic
May 31 at Bernard Halpern
Park in Doraville.
The picnic is the launch
and kick-off experience,
Haggray said. We will con-
tinue throughout the sum-
mer and hopefully start after
school programs this com-
ing fall.
Real Youth is planning
at least one more picnic,
according to organization
leaders.
Not every LGBTQ child
or young adult has a place
where they can be safe and
be themselves, said Real
Youth Vice President Mark
DeLong. Some may face
bullying at school, church
or even at home. But, Real
Youth is for everyonein-
cluding those who might
also have a supportive envi-
ronment.
Part of that commu-
nity is people who are sup-
portive and are happy and
well-adjusted and at peace
with themselves, showing
all ranges of acceptance,
DeLong said. People who
are fully out, people who are
not out and people who are
straight allies.
For now, the organization
is looking for a permanent
space, preferably near a
MARTA line. Haggray said
they are aware that most of
their members may not have
access to a car and will need
somewhere safe and transit-
friendly.
We want to be a space
where they can be them-
selves, Haggray said.
Where people who might
not be out can come and feel
safe, where people who are
out and proud can be them-
selves.
Haggray said he has been
involved with LGBTQ issues
for a long time, even being a
grand marshal for the 2010
Atlanta pride parade. He
also formerly served on the
board of directors for Youth-
Pride and helped organize
JustUs ATL, a LGBTQ orga-
nization led by young adults.
DeLong said that Real
Youth is going to be differ-
ent than those organiza-
tions because it is drawing
together adult community
members from a variety of
organizations to offer pro-
gramming and mentoring.
Just as Atlanta draws
adults from across the state,
it also draws young adults
for the same reasonsa big-
ger community, perhaps
more accepting than their
hometowns and, of course,
an established LGBTQ
scene. However, the existing
outlets for young gay people
may not be the most appro-
priate.
The Atlanta LGBTQ
scene is very vibrant, espe-
cially in the Midtown area,
but there is not a lot for
LGBTQ young adults to do,
Haggray said. We have so
many youth that want to be
out there, being active in the
community. So, this is an
alternative to clubs and bars.
At that age we dont want to
encourage that.
From left, Terry Townsend and Mitchell Atwater, both from Parkview High
School in Lilburn, attended Real Youths inaugural picnic May 29.
From left, Real Youth board members include Brian McMahon, Beth Greaves, Mark DeLong, John Beers, Brit
Prince, Kelley Napier, Darryl Moores, Gabriel Haggray and Cedrick Hayward.
Crime Briefs
by Lauren Ramsdell
A man jumped from an
overpass at Spaghetti Junc-
tion to his death June 2 in
the midst of morning traf-
fic. The incident left traffic
stalled for several hours
while investigators worked at
the scene.
The man left a suicide
note guiding investigators
to a house at 4161 Gladney
Drive in Doraville where the
body of another man was
found, according to DeKalb
County police.
Our officers went to that
location and did find a man
deceased at that location,
said DeKalb County Police
Public Information Officer
Mekka Parish. The person
at the home did not have any
signs of trauma.
The person who jumped
is believed to be Mark Cas-
tleberry, 55, while the man
found at the house is report-
ed to be Greg Woodlief, 66.
The house at 4161 Gladney
Drive is listed as owned by
Castleberry and Woodlief.
It was under foreclosure and
was up for auction on June 3,
according to public notices.
According to a post on
the Facebook page of Castle-
berrys sister, Ginger Holt,
Facebook page, Woodlief,
Castleberrys partner, died of
natural causes at their home
on Gladney Drive. When
Greg died, my brother took
his own life, she said in the
post.
Right now it is a death
investigation, Parish said. If
it is revealed to be anything
other than a death investiga-
tion, thats when we will take
over.
The DeKalb County
Chief Medical Examiner
has confirmed the cause of
death for Castleberry to be
suicide. The cause of Wood-
lief s death has not been con-
firmed.
We are waiting on toxi-
cology reports, but there is
no sign of trauma on the
body, said DeWayne Cal-
houn, director of the medi-
cal examiners office. They
lived togetherthere was no
sign of any foul play or any-
thing like that.
Castleberry was the for-
mer executive director of
the Miss Atlanta Scholarship
Pageant and president of
Bank Marketing Associates,
a finance recruiting firm,
according to his LinkedIn
profile. He also was accused
of forging $11,800 worth of
checks from an acquaintance
who worked at Perimeter
Park Drive, where Castleber-
ry kept his Bank Marketing
Associates office. Castleberry
was arrested and charged
with felony burglary and
theft by taking July 11, 2013,
and released on $10,000
bond that day, according to
court documents.
Woodlief was a former
producer for Miss Atlanta,
as well as Pumps for Pets, a
charity drive related to the
pageant and supporting Pets
are Loving Support Inc, ac-
cording to www.missga.org
and www.eventbee.com.
Posts on the Miss Georgia
Scholarship Pageant Face-
book page express sympathy
at the loss of two old pag-
eant buddies.
by Daniel Beauregard
daniel@dekalbchamp.com
For more than a year
construction crews in De-
catur have been working on
a new police headquarters,
recreation center and a place
to house the school board,
and according to Deputy
City Manager Hugh Saxon,
theyre nearly complete.
Saxon, who manages all of
Decaturs construction and
capital improvement proj-
ects, said the approximately
$38 million project will be
completed this summer; the
police and municipal court
headquarters in August and
recreation center in early
September.
Additionally, the facility
housing City Schools of De-
catur staff is expected to be
finished within the next few
weeks. The swimming pool
adjacent to the recreation
area is complete, and the city
held its first swim meet there
June 3.
This area was the center
of African-American life in
Decatur, Saxon said.
The area, known as Bea-
con Hill, was home to several
schools, a library and the
Ebster Recreation Center in
the 1960s. Saxon said after
schools were integrated the
city took ownership of the
school buildings and recre-
ation center.
We took it over and
operated it as a recreation
center; we put our police
department in there; had a
community theater and used
Beacon Municipal complex
nearing completion
See Beacon on page 16A
Spaghetti Junction
death ruled a suicide
Work continues at the Beacon Municipal Center, which boasts a renovated pool, recreation center and
facilities for the Decatur Police and municipal court. Photos by Daniel Beauregard
ONE MANS OPINION
Getting a Handel on this race
An extraordinarily positive
job performance rating, said
rival U.S. Senate candidate and
former Georgia Secretary of State
Karen Handel during her recent
endorsement of Congressman Jack
Kingston (R-Savannah) for the July
22 runoff election, referring to his
win of several counties within his
congressional district by as much as
74 percent.
In Georgias competitive GOP
Primary race to succeed retiring
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, only 30,000
votes separated front runner David
Perdue (31 percent) from second-
place finisher, Congressman Jack
Kingston (26 percent).Karen
Handel (22 percent) was a close
third, and the tepid turnout of
roughly 600,000 GOP primary
voters will only get smaller in the
runoff on Tuesday, July 22.
Handel initially led the field
for governor in 2010, with then
second-place finisher Congressman
Nathan Deal (R-Gainesville),
eventually besting her in the
runoff by a margin of 25,000
votes.Slingshot wins in runoffs
are pretty common in Georgia,
particularly when the margin is
close between the first- and second-
place finishers.The voters for the
second-place candidate are typically
more motivated, and runoffs
are open to all voters (excluding
crossover votes from the other party
primary).Come-from-behind wins
also add to the myth and mystery
of the political process, causing
many consultants in the industry
to actually prefer a narrow second-
place finish to winning the plurality
in tight primary contests.
But this runoff election, and
the later general election facing
the Democratic Party nominee,
nonprofit executive Michelle Nunn
in November, is going to largely be
fought on the same battleground, in
north Georgia and metro Atlanta.
Combined, the Kingston and
Handel primary vote totals are close
to 50 percent.And fourth-place
finisher, Congressman Phil Gingrey
(R-Marietta), may soon suggest
that his supporters follow that same
path.
This runoff will be light on
debates and lighter still on personal
appearances and campaigning,
and will largely be waged over the
airwaves and via direct mail, robo-
calls and the Internet, aimed at
reactivating voters via absentees,
advance voting and runoff election
day turnout.Handel and Kingston
are veterans of this type of battle,
while this will only be Perdues
second election.
Where voters know him best,
Kingston won by margins usually
reserved for candidates facing
only token opposition. But from
Columbus, Macon and points north
in Georgia, Kingston still needs to
better define himself.So far, in the
primary and now in the early days
of the runoff, the best job of doing
that has been coming from ads
produced by the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce. The most recent volley
features smiling Georgia Bulldog
veteran Herschel Walker touting
the winning ways of Congressman
Kingston.
As former secretary of state,
Handel is more familiar than
most with the mechanics of voter
turnout and regional political
strength.Kingston supporters
had best hope that their alliance
is more than Handel expressing
her displeasure with some earlier
criticism and comments from
Perdue, or perhaps even promises
to assist her with any campaign
debt.Handel should become part of
Kingstons kitchen cabinet, and be
asked to work the campaign trail,
particularly in metro Atlanta and
focus on winning over fellow GOP
female activists.
None of the GOP female
candidates for any congressional
seat or top of the ticket contest
advanced to the runoff.Handel is
well aware that this simply fuels
expansion of the GOP gender gap,
particularly problematic for the fall
contest against Nunn.
Kingston largely allowed his long
service and Capitol Hill experience
to be turned into an albatross in the
first round.He now needs to dust
off his resume and begin touting
the results of his tenure there,
including the recently announced
$600-million in long awaited federal
funding to begin dredging and
deepening the Port of Savannah.
Though possibly viewed by some
as only a regional job engine, the
port directly and indirectly supports
100,000 manufacturing and logistics
jobs in metro Atlanta.Perdues
messaging of changing the people to
change the product and results will
rightly remain largely the same, but
his resume remains better suited to
positions in the executive branch,
versus the legislative.Being a
leader in Congress requires a much
more collegial and team-building
approach, as well as the ability to
compromise.Though there are
plenty of former CEO governors,
only a few have made a successful
transition into either chamber of
Congress.
So for now, Kingston appears to
be seated a bit more closely to the
catbird seat, or at least until the next
volley is fired, a bit closer to getting
a Handel on this race.
Bill Crane also serves as a political
analyst and commentator for Channel
2s Action News, WSB-AM News/Talk
750 and now 95.5 FM, as well as a
columnist for The Champion, Cham-
pion Free Press and Georgia Trend.
Crane is a DeKalb native and business
owner, living in Scottdale. You can
reach him or comment on a column at
billcrane@earthlink.net.
Bill Crane
Columnist
OPINION
OPINION
Gene Walkerk
Columnist

Let Us Know What You Think!
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS encourages opinions
from its readers. Please write to us and express your
views. Letters should be brief, typewritten and contain
the writers name, address and telephone number for
verifcation. All letters will be considered for publica-
tion.
Send Letters To Editor, The Champion Free Press, P. O. Box 1347,
Decatur, GA 30031-1347; Send email to Andrew@dekalbchamp.com
FAX To: (404) 370-3903 Phone: (404) 373-7779
Deadline for news releases and advertising: Thursday, one week
prior to publication date.
EDITORS NOTE: The opinions written by columnists and contribut-
ing editors do not necessarily refect the opinions of the editor or
publishers. The Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any
advertisement at any time. The Publisher is not responsible for
unsolicited manuscripts.
Publisher: John Hewitt
Chief Financial Of cer: Dr. Earl D. Glenn
Managing Editor: Andrew Cauthen
Production Manager: Kemesha Hunt
Photographer: Travis Hudgons
Staf Reporters: Daniel Beauregard
Carla Parker
Lauren Ramsdell
Advertising Sales: Louise Dyrenforth Acker
The Champion Free Press is published each
Friday by ACE III Communications, Inc.,
114 New Street, Suite E, Decatur, GA. 30030
Phone (404) 373-7779.
www.championnewspaper.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING (404) 373-7779 x 110
FREEPRESS
STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER
We sincerely appreciate the discussion
surrounding this and any issue of interest to
DeKalb County. The Champion was founded in
1991 expressly to provide a forum for discourse
for all community residents on all sides of an
issue. We have no desire to make the news
only to report news and opinions to effect a
more educated citizenry that will ultimately
move our community forward. We are happy
to present ideas for discussion; however, we
make every effort to avoid printing information
submitted to us that is known to be false and/or
assumptions penned as fact.
Drepwalker@yahoo.com
Going Back, Not an Option was
the theme the 151st annual celebra-
tion of the Emancipation Proclama-
tion in my hometown of Thomaston
on May 24. Specifically, the Thom-
aston Upson County Emancipation
celebration brings leaders of church-
es, politicians, Thomastonians and
others from around the nation
together to celebrate and educate
our youth about the rich heritage of
Blacks. In addition, it reflects on the
struggles of our ancestors and the
sacrifices they made for our freedom
and what we must continue doing to
protect that freedom. The activities
of this celebration included recogni-
tions, a keynote speaker, parade and
a candlelight prayer service for the
community, plus a variety of flavor-
some food from throughout the
county.
The parade was one of the most
attractive and largest ever, with well-
wishers packed on both sides of the
streets and the downtown court-
house square. The floats, different
makes and sizes of automobiles,
horseback riders, motorcycles, four-
wheelers, fire and rescue vehicles, to
name a few, where all viewed with
anticipation and excitement. The
Drake High School state champi-
onship boys basketball teams for
both 1962 and 1963, along with me
as the coach, were also featured in
the parade. Seven of the 14 players
from those teams were present in
the parade and got out of the lim-
ousine to greet spectators and hand
out candy as if they were teenagers
again. Needless to say, it was a glori-
ous time for all involved.
The emancipation committee
has a history of bringing to this
event very accomplished individu-
als. A few years back, then Georgias
outstanding labor commissioner
and now DeKalb Countys school
superintendent, the Honorable Mi-
chael Thurmond served as keynote
speaker. His moving speech, insight-
ful knowledge of history, and advice
on what we should do to continue
to protect our freedom was well
received.
The highlight of the celebration
is the keynote speaker, and this year
the Rev. Dr. Waylon Knight, pas-
tor of the West Mt. Sinai Baptist
Church, was the speaker for the oc-
casion. The committees high stan-
dard of providing quality speakers
was well-served by Pastor Knight.
As a prelude to his speech, Pastor
Knightin his powerful voice and
melodious tonestirred the audience
with a medley of Negro spirituals
that slaves often used to help steer
them to freedom.
In addressing the theme, Going
Back, Not an Option, he referenced
2 Kings 7:3-6 with a subject, I Cant
Sit Here. In developing his speech,
he raised up the story of the four
men with leprosy sitting at the en-
trance of the city gates asking them-
selves whether they should continue
to sit there and starve, go back into
the city and be killed, or surrender
to the Syrian army which may either
kill them or let them live.
It was against this spiritual back-
drop that Pastor Knight said that
the truth of the matter is that going
back is not an option; but if we sit
still, it is a possibility. He appealed to
the audience not to become compla-
cent or sit still. Then he identified
and stressed key thoughts we need
to know and do in order to move
forward: know who you are; dont
kill those who are against you; know
the conditions in which you live;
and stay togetherdont turn on each
other.
For many of us, the real value
of the Emancipation Proclamation
celebration is that it symbolizes
the ongoing struggle of Blacks to
reclaim our collective memory and
identity. Indeed, the program, activi-
ties and spiritual appeal help us to
understand that the knowledge of
Blackness is not found in genet-
ics and only indirectly in the color
of ones skin. But rather, it is found
in the connections to symbols, liv-
ing traditions, and the histories of
resistance and renewal of the souls
rekindled or brought to life during
the celebration.
Going back, not an option!

COMMUNITY
If you would like to nominate someone
to be considered as a future Champion
of the Week, please contact Andrew
Cauthen at andrew@dekalbchamp.com
or at (404) 373-7779, ext. 117.
ANNA DUNLANY
Champion
of
theWeek
Cities adopt tentative millage rates,
county schedules retreat
With summer fast ap-
proaching, several cities in
DeKalb County have adopt-
ed tentative millage rates and
scheduled public hearings in
anticipation of a final vote.
Stone Mountain adopted
a tentative millage rate of 22
mills, which is less than the
citys rollback rate of 23.991
mills. The city will hold a
hearing on the proposed
millage rate June 16, at 6
p.m., at Stone Mountain City
Hall, located at 875 Main
Street. The hearing will be
followed by a meeting to
adopt the millage rate.
Lithonia has proposed a
slight tax increase, raising its
millage rate 3.616 mills to
19.869 mills. Mayor Debo-
rah Jackson said although
increasing taxes is never
popular she hopes residents
will support it to help
strengthen the citys infra-
structure and build a reserve
fund.
According to Lithonia
officials, the tax increase for
a home with a fair market
value of $26,000 is approxi-
mately $37. The proposed
increase on non-homestead
property with a fair market
value of $53,000 is approxi-
mately $76.
Public hearings will be
held on the tax increase June
16, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.,
and June 23 at 6 p.m., after
which the millage rate will
be adopted. All meetings will
be held at Lithonia City Hall,
located at 6980 Main Street.
The city of Doraville
adopted a proposed mill-
age rate of 9.00, which will
require a 4.63 percent in-
crease in property taxes. The
increase for a home with a
fair market value of $82,000
is approximately $13 and
the tax increase for a non-
homestead property with a
is $67.
held regarding Doravilles tax
increase June 9, 10 and 16,
at 6:30 p.m. at Doraville City
Hall, located at 3725 Park
Ave.
Dunwoody has tentatively
set its tax rate at 2.74 mills.
It has remained unchanged
since its incorporation in
2009.
According to Dunwoody
officials, by keeping the mill-
age rate at 2.74 mills since
incorporation, property
owners may see an increase
or a decrease in their real es-
tate taxes in 2014, depending
on whether individual prop-
erty gained or lost value.
The city will hold public
meetings June 9, at 6 p.m.
and 7 p.m., June 24 at 7 p.m.
All meetings will be held at
the Dunwoody City Hall, lo-
cated at 41 Perimeter Center
East. Dunwoody will vote on
a final tax rate following its
June 24 public information
session.
Both Chamblee and
Brookhaven have tentatively
adopted millage rates that
require an increase in prop-
erty taxes.
Due to recent property
reevaluations, Brookhavens
millage rate will be 2.85
mills, an increase of .281
mills. Te proposed tax
is approximately $28 and the
proposed tax increase for
a non-homestead property
with a fair market value of
$200,000 is approximately
$22.
Brookhaven will hold
public hearings at the
Brookhaven City Hall on the
tax increase June 17 at 10:30
a.m. and 7 p.m., afer which
the millage rate will be voted
on and adopted.
Chamblees tentative new
millage rate of 6.40 mills for
newly-annexed properties
will result in an increase of
6.40 mills. Te proposed tax
is approximately $320 and
the proposed tax increase
for non-homestead property
with a fair market value of
$450,000 is approximately
$1,152.
NOTICEOFPROPERTYTAXINCREASE
TheCityofBrookhavenhastentativelyadoptedamillageratewhichwill
requireanincreaseinpropertytaxesby10.94percentovertheRollback
Millagerate.Thisincreaseisduesolelytotherevaluationofrealproperty
taxassessments.
Allconcernedcitizensareinvitedtothepublichearingsonthistaxincrease
tobeheldatBrookhavenCityHallat4362PeachtreeRoad,Brookhaven,
GA30319atspecialcalledmeetingsonJune17,2014at10:30a.m.and
againat7:00p.m.Afterthefinalpublichearingat7:00p.m.,themillage
ratewillbevotedonandformallyadopted.
Thetentativeincreasewillresultinamillagerateof2.85mills,anincrease
of.281mills.Withoutthistentativetaxincrease,themillageratewillbeno
morethan2.569mills.Theproposedtaxincreaseforahomewithafair
marketvalueof$300,000isapproximately$28andtheproposedtax
increasefornonhomesteadpropertywithafairmarketvalueof$200,000
isapproximately$22.
See Millage on page 17A
Anna DunLany said
her parents set a great ex-
ample when she was grow-
ing up by volunteering at
the church food bank and
before and afer services.
DunLany said her par-
ents encouraged her to
fnd her own niche for
volunteering. She is now
the vice president of the
DeKalb Young Democrats.
DunLany attended Ag-
nes Scott College, where
she became interested in
politics. Afer graduating
in 2010, she got involved
with Young Democrats.
I am from Charles-
ton, South Carolinaan
island of blue in a sea of
red. I now proudly live in
DeKalb County, DunLany
said.
Last year, Young Demo-
crats of Georgia President
Steve Golden called a
meeting about reform-
ing the DeKalb chapter.
DunLany helped get the
DeKalb County Young
Democrats started.
I had been a member
of Young Dems of Atlanta
for two years, but I wanted
to serve in the county
that I live in, DunLany
said. DeKalb is the bluest
county in Georgia, and we
have a huge responsibil-
ity to register voters and
turn out the vote for our
candidates in 2014 and
to be ground zero for the
2016 Presidential race in
Georgia.
Recently, DunLany
organized DeKalb Young
Democrats frst major
community event, a fo-
rum with the Democratic
candidates for State Senate
District 42.
We had over 100
members of the commu-
nity come out to see Jim
Galloway lead a discussion
with Kyle Williams and
Elena Parent, DunLany
said. It was incredible
to see the informed and
engaged [residents] of
DeKalb learning about
their candidates.
DunLany said volun-
teering in her commu-
nity is important because
residents have a chance to
transform the government
of DeKalb County.
Unless we get out the
vote and communicate our
needs to our leaders, we
will not have a stake in the
changes that will happen
in the DeKalb County gov-
ernment, law enforcement,
schools and the cityhood
movement, DunLany said.

COMMUNITY
AROUND
DEKALB
Avondale
Estates
Volunteers and sponsors needed
for citys 4th of July celebration
Volunteers are needed for the

Avondale Estates annual Fourth of
July Parade which attracts hundreds
of families and friends.
On the morning of July 4, volun-
teers are needed to blow up helium
balloons, hand out items, coordinate
traffic and line up the participants.
Float judges are also needed. Morn-
ing volunteers still have plenty of
time to participate in the parade or
watch it. Breakfast will be provided.
Residents can also donate to the
event by writing a check payable to
the City of Avondale Estates, with
the notation 4th of July Parade in
the memo section of the check.
All businesses, residents, streets
and neighborhood organizations
are invited to enter a float into the
parade.
For more information and to
volunteer or donate, contact Karen
Holmes at (404) 294-5400 or
kholmes@avondaleestates.org.
Countywide
Cities to host Georgia State
Games Championship events
Chamblee and Doraville will
host events during the Georgia
State Games Championships. Te
outdoor volleyball championships
will be held at Honeysuckle Park
in Doraville, July 12-13. Dynamo
Aquatic Center in Chamblee will
host the water polo championships.
To register for these events or other
events across the state, visit www.
georgiagames.org.
Decatur
Storytelling event to be held at
local pub
Stories on the Square will be
held June 10, from 7:30-9 p.m., at
the Famous Pub, located at 2947 N.
Druid Hills Road in Decatur.
The show will be an open mic,
storytelling event for personal
stories that must be told rather than
read, with a maximum time limit of
approximately seven minutes.
For Junes show, the theme is
lost and found and attendees can
tell any story loosely related to it.
The event is free and for adults
only. For more information contact
louisamerchant.1@gmail.com.
DeKalb History Center hosts
storytelling event
The DeKalb History Center will
host a family day June 7, from 10-
11:30 a.m. at the Swanton House,
located at 720 West Trinity Place in
Decatur.
Storyteller LaDoris Davis
will be at the historic Biffe Cabin
teaching nineteenth century games.
Davis will also share stories
from the past and talking about
life in the mid-nineteenth century.
Attendees will also be able to make
a nineteenth century game to take
home.
For more information visit www.
dekalbhistory.org.
Georgia Power ofers residents
energy improvement incentives
DeKalb County residents and
Georgia Power customers are eli-
gible to participate in the companys
Home Energy Improvement pro-
gram.
As part of the program, home-
owners can undergo a home energy
assessment and a certifed contrac-
tor will provide the homeowner
with a list of recommended energy
improvements.
Once the assessment is made and
improvements are implemented,
Georgia Power customers could
receive up to a 30 percent reduction
in electricity and qualify for up to
$2,200 in rebates as part of the pro-
gram.
For more information call (877)
310-5607 or visit www.georgiapow-
er.com/homeimprovements.
East Decatur Station holds annual
party
The Decatur Arts Alliance and
East Decatur Station are partnering
together to host the third annual
Big Pop Up event, taking place
June 12, from 6-9 p.m. at East
Decatur Station off New Street.
The event will feature local arts
and crafts, music, food and craft
beer. Attendees will also be able to
receive a discounted price to tour
the Three Taverns brewery.
For more information contact
Meghan@eastdecaturstation.com or
call (404) 377-5188.
Doraville
City to hold millage rate public
hearings
Doraville residents are invited to
attend one of three public hearings
on the proposed millage rate.
The public hearings will be June
9, 10 and 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the
Doraville City Hall, located at 3725
Park Avenue, Doraville.
The preliminary millage rate is
9 percent, the same as the previous
year, according to an announce-
ment. Due to an increase in prop-
erty values in the tax digest, the 9
percent millage rate will generate
more revenue.
The proposed tax increase for
a home with a fair market value of
$82,000 is approximately $13 and
the tax increase for a non-home-
stead property with a fair market
value of $427,000 is approximately
$67, the announcement stated.
Dunwoody
City to hold amnesty program

Dunwoody Municipal Court is
holding an amnesty program for
individuals with past due traffic ci-
tations and/or active bench warrants
for failing to appear in court. The
incentive of the program is to pro-
mote lawful driving privileges, settle
outstanding violations with the
court and reduce arrests. Amnesty
will run during the months of June
and July at the Dunwoody Munici-
pal Court located at 41 Perimeter
Center East, Suite 103. Individuals
may walk-in to the municipal court
on Mondays as well as Wednesday
through Fridays during the hours
of 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. If individuals
pay their fines in full, all contempt
fees will be forgiven. If the individ-
uals offense requires a mandatory
court appearance, the individual will
be granted a future court date to ap-
pear before a judge and all warrants
will be cleared and warrant fees
forgiven. For more information, call
(678) 382-6973.
Lithonia
City to ofer amnesty program
The Lithonia Municipal Court is
conducting an amnesty period for
the unpaid failure to appear war-
rants and citations. The amnesty
period will run from June 9 through
Sept. 12. During this period the
warrant fee of $470 and the failure
to appear fee of $160 will be waived
for each outstanding item paid. The
Lithonia Municipal Court will be
looking for individuals who fail to
take advantage of the amnesty pe-
riod by attempting to execute the
outstanding warrants at home and
business.
Cases that require a mandatory
court appearance will be reschedule,
and offenders must come in during
the amnesty period to receive a new
court date and take advantage of the
amnesty offer. Payments will need to
be paid to Lithonia Police Depart-
ment, located at 6920 Main Street.
Cash and money order will be ac-
cepted. For more information, call
(770) 482-8947.
Stone Mountain
Library to host book sale
The annual Friends of Stone
Mountain-Sue Kellogg book sale
will be held June 13 and 14, 9 a.m. to
4 p.m. Hardcover books will be on
sale for $1 and paperbacks $.50, un-
less otherwise marked. The library is
located at 952 Leon Street. For more
information, call (770) 413-2020.
Nonproft group to hold annual
block party, charity ride
The Beverly Cunningham Out-
reach Program will hold its third an-
nual Domestic Violence Block Party
& Charity Ride on June 21.
The motorcycle riders will arrive
at the parking lot of Berean Chris-
tian Church, 2201 Young Road,
Stone Mountain, between 12:45 p.m.
and 1 p.m.
The focus of the event is to edu-
cate, empower, provide resources for
victims/survivors, and raise funding
for domestic violence and economic
empowerment programs.
Contact Stephanie Lee for more
information at (770) 906-2636 or via
email at s.lee@asocialrose.com.
LOCAL NEWS
Restaurant Health Inspections
Establishment Name: Athens Pizza
Address: 1341 Clairmont Road
Current Score/Grade: 94/A
Inspecton Date: 05/29/2014
Establishment Name: Wafe House #1156
Address: 1856 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Current Score/Grade: 70/C
Establishment Name: Mathews Cafeteria
Address: 2299 Main Street
Current Score/Grade: 87/B
Cooked potentally hazardous foods not cooled from 135F to 41F
within a total of 6 hours (see * at temp log). Potentally hazardous
food items prepared the previous day not cooled to 41F.
Discussed strategies with PIC to manipulate foods to expedite
the cooling process: place food container in ice bath while
strring frequently, use chill stcks, reduce quantty/separate into
additonal containers, place food in blast chiller, etc. Corrected
On-Site. Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring while
preparing food. Observed bracelets on food handling employees.
PIC informed all jewelry must be removed while preparing
food, food employees may not wear jewelry including medical
informaton jewelry on their arms and hands, except for a plain
wedding band.
Establishment Name: Wing Fling
Address: 4787 Redan Road
Establishment Name: Pizza Walley
Address: 4763 Memorial Drive, Suite E
Current Score/Grade: 70/C
Observatons and Correctve Actons
Establishment Name: Third Eye Bar & Lounge
Address: 3939 Lawrenceville Highway
Current Score/Grade: 63/U
Establishment Name: Dairy Queen
Address: 2801 Candler Road, Suite B
Establishment Name: All Island Cafe
Address: 4747 Memorial Drive
Observatons and Correctve Actons
Observed stew chicken in warming cabinet not maintaining a
temperature of 135F or above. Stew chicken holding at 122F.
Informed PIC all hot-held potentally hazardous foods must be
held at 135F or above. Advised PIC to reheat stew chicken to 165F
and hold at 135F. COS- PIC placed stew chicken in oven to reheat.
Corrected On-Site. Observed cooked cabbage and cow foot
soup cooked yesterday, 5/27/14, in walk in cooler with no date
marks. Informed PIC all potentally hazardous foods held in facility
over 24 hours must be marked with the date prepared or day of
dispositon. Observed employee with beard longer than 1/2 inch
without an efectve means of restraint. Informed employee beard
must be efectvely restrained. Advised PIC to purchase beard
restraint.
Observed wet wiping cloths on prep tables upon arrival. Informed
PIC wet wiping cloths must be stored in approved sanitzing
soluton of either 100ppm available chlorine or 300 ppm available
Quat. COS- employee placed wiping cloths in sanitzing soluton.
Establishment Name: American Deli
Address: 4800 Briarclif Road, Suite 1110
Observed spray botle of oven cleaner with no label. COS-Advised
to label. Corrected On-Site. Repeat Violaton. Correct By:
06/08/2014
Observed bulk container of salt with no label. COS-Advised to label
Corrected On-Site. Repeat Violaton.
Observed employee rinse dish in the vegetable sink and leave hose
in sink. COS-Advised employee that vegetable sink is only for fruits
and vegetables to be washed. Corrected On-Site.
Shelves in walk in cooler had excessive food debris and also
botom shelf in main kitchen area.
Observed leak at the 3 compartment sink.
Observed live roaches in main kitchen. Repeat Violaton.
Immigration enforcement panel
votes to fne DeKalb County
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NOTICE OF PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The Decatur City Commission has tentatively adopted a combined millage
rate of 13.00 mills which will require an increase in property taxes of 6.62%
for fiscal year 2014-2015. This is the same millage rate adopted for the
current fiscal year 2013-2014 which generates revenue necessary to fund the
City of Decaturs general operations, bonded indebtedness, downtown
development authority and capital improvements. The millage rate is not
increasing.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase
to be held at the City Commission Meeting Room, Decatur City Hall, 509 N.
McDonough Street, Decatur, on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. This
tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 13.00 mills, an increase of
0.817 mills over the rollback millage rate. Without this tentative tax
increase, the millage rate will be no more than 12.183 mills. The proposed
tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $300,000 is
approximately $106 and the proposed tax increase for nonhomestead
property with a fair market value of $300,000 is approximately $123.

A panel tasked with po-
licing public officials who
dont follow Georgias immi-
gration laws recently voted
to fine DeKalb County
$5,000 unless the county
comes into compliance
within 30 days.
This is reportedly the
first time the states Immi-
gration Enforcement Review
Board (IERB), which was
created in 2011 has imposed
a fine of this nature.
In a letter sent to DeKalb
County May 29, the IERB
accused the county of not
using the Systematic Alien
Verification for Entitlements
(SAVE) program for a sum-
mer youth program it is
hosting.
According to the letter,
there is a contingency as
part of the sanctions that
states the fine against the
county will be lifted if it
agrees in writing to certain
conditions.
The monetary fine will
be removed ifthe chief
executive officer or another
officer duly authorized to
bind DeKalb County on
such matters, confirms in
writing to the board that
DeKalb County has taken
remedial actions to correct
the above mentioned viola-
tion by indicating a clear
intent to utilize [the] SAVE
program authorization
to administer the summer
youth program [going for-
ward], the letter stated.
DeKalb County officials
have previously stated that
although the program is
federally funded, the county
does not provide the ap-
plicants with vouchers for
it. Instead, DeKalb County
provides those vouchers
to nonprofit groups which
administer their services to
applicants during the pro-
gram.
The IERB ruling was
related to one specific pro-
gram, DeKalb County
spokesman Burke Brennan
said. The county does not
believe SAVE verification is
required for that program
but is exploring this issue in
further detail.
The board consists of
three appointees by Gov.
Nathan Deal, two by Lt.
Gov. Casey Cagle and two
by House Speaker David
Ralston.
The sanction reportedly
arose from a complaint filed
by D.A. King, president of
the Dustin Inman Society,
which advocates for en-
forcement of U.S. immigra-
tion and employment laws.
The Board of the Georgia
Commission for Service
and Volunteerism will meet
for its regularly scheduled
Quarterly Board Meeting
on Tuesday, June 10,
2014, from 1 p.m. to 2
p.m. in the 3
rd
Floor
Conference Room at the
Georgia Department of
Community Affairs, 60
Executive Park South, NE,
Atlanta, Georgia. For
more information and
directions, please call 404-
327-6843.


LOCAL NEWS
by Lauren Ramsdell
A little more than a week
after Dunwoody cut the rib-
bon on its newest park, it
hosted a community meeting
showcasing a proposed new
park near Perimeter Mall.
Instead of the traditional
city-funded park, though,
this planned development is
going to be what Dunwoody
leaders love to call a public-
private partnership where
the land is being granted by
local businesses, the money
will be raised from outside
sources, construction will be
contracted and then mainte-
nance will be turned over to
the city.
This park would serve
a large concentration of
dwellers that are in the pe-
rimeter area, the urban part
of Dunwoody, said Council-
man Terry Nall. There is
no park there now at all, but
we have a lot of residential
living there in apartments,
townhomesa very high con-
centration of residents but no
park facility.
The land is located in
a somewhat unexpected
space: under the MARTA rail
lines servicing the mall. A
5.6acre plot runs under the
elevated rail and adjacent to
Perimeter Center Parkway
and the mall parking lot.
Currently, the property
serves as easements for Pe-
rimeter Mall, the MARTA
Station, High Street Develop-
menta mixed-use business
center where the newly-
announced State Farm op-
erations center will beand a
portion of Daltex Perimeter
Inc. It is fenced off with clus-
ters of trees and a concrete
streambed along which Pe-
rimeter Creek flows.
The property could never
be developed with buildings,
said planners, so, unexpect-
edly, a large parcel of space
opened up in the heart of
urban Dunwoody.
We are landlocked in
Dunwoody, there are so few
places that could be turned
into a park, we would have
to buy property to do that,
said Bev Wingate, a resident
and community activist. So
here is a wonderful gift of 5.6
acres to the community that
wont come out of the tax-
payers pockets.
Ongoing maintenance
appears to be minimal, Nall
said. At a public meeting
May 29, planners Kimley-
Horn and Associates re-
vealed two design options
for the space, one featuring
a large open greenspace and
the other with a small pond
where that space would be.
Both feature an open portion
of Perimeter Creek and ac-
count for flooding concerns.
To get this land, this very
high-value property in this
area and get peoples consent
to let us use it was a miracle
and a real opportunity, said
Yvonne Williams, CEO of
Perimeter Community Im-
provement Districts (PCID).
It can be the spine of what
happens with greenways as
they go through Dunwoody
and Brookhaven and Sandy
Springs in the future.
PCID is spearheading the
development as a part of its
efforts to improve the entire
Perimeter area and make it a
regional center.
The park may feature
exercise stations or a gather-
ing area/performance space,
but comments from previous
meetings expressed residents
desire to keep the park un-
cluttered. The park will also
serve as a passage from the
mall to the pedestrian access
to businesses across Perim-
eter Center Parkway, and a
new focus on the MARTA
station.
It helps to get people
interested in the value of rid-
ing transit, Williams said.
Thats the kind of lifestyle
that is being demanded.
Park proposed for space under Dunwoody MARTA line
The DeKalb County Board of Education does hereby announce that the millage rate will be set at a meeting to be held at the
DeKalb County School District Administrative & Instructional Complex, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard,
Stone Mountain, Georgia on Monday, July 7, 2014 at 6:30 p.m., and pursuant to the requirements of O.C.G.A. 48-5-32, does
hereby publish the following presentation of the current year's tax digest and levy, along with the history of the tax digest and levy
for the past five years.
PROPOSED
M & O DIGEST 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
REAL & PERSONAL 22,818,176,952 22,184,019,392 19,310,211,337 17,578,034,324 17,512,942,085 18,890,356,180
MOTOR VEHICLES 1,385,428,820 1,254,986,790 1,225,978,410 1,265,293,750 1,359,311,440 1,135,212,830
MOBILE HOMES 740,987 656,584 510,171 440,056 396,572 355,333
TIMBER - 100% 91,018 0 0 0 0 0
HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT 163,106 65,347 82,712 77,829 34,308 57,864
GROSS DIGEST 24,204,600,883 23,439,728,113 20,536,782,630 18,843,845,959 18,872,684,405 20,025,982,207
LESS M& O EXEMPTIONS 3,017,884,570 3,039,974,697 2,913,503,127 2,847,239,428 2,826,254,552 2,884,559,376
NET M & O DIGEST 21,186,716,313 20,399,753,416 17,623,279,503 15,996,606,531 16,046,429,853 17,141,422,831
STATE FOREST LAND
ASSISTANCE GRANT VALUE 0 0 0 0 0 0
ADJUSTED NET M&O DIGEST 21,186,716,313 20,399,753,416 17,623,279,503 15,996,606,531 16,046,429,853 17,141,422,831
GROSS M&O MILLAGE 22.98 22.98 22.98 23.98 23.98 23.98
LESS ROLLBACKS 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
NET M&O MILLAGE 22.98 22.98 22.98 23.98 23.98 23.98
TOTAL SCHOOL TAXES LEVIED $486,870,741 $468,786,333 $404,982,963 $383,598,625 $384,793,388 $411,051,319
NET TAXES $ INCREASE ($18,748,365) ($18,084,407) ($63,803,371) ($21,384,338) $1,194,763 $26,257,932
NET TAXES % INCREASE -3.71% -3.71% -13.61% -5.28% 0.31% 6.82%
NOTES:
1. THE NET LEVY DOES NOT REFLECT ACTUAL REVENUE RECEIVED OR AVAILABLE DUE TO VALUE ADJUSTMENTS RESULTING FROM APPEALS, DELINQUENT TAXES,
COLLECTIONS FROM PRIOR YEARS, AND A FEE OF 1.25% PAID TO THE COUNTY FOR BILLING AND COLLECTIONS.
2. THE 2014 MILLAGE RATE IS THE PROPOSED RATE. THE PROPOSED SCHOOL OPERATIONS MILLAGE IS 23.98 MILLS.
3. 2014 DIGEST FIGURES ARE AN ESTIMATE.
CURRENT 2014 TAX DIGEST AND FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
The two options for the proposed Perimeter Park development, underneath the elevated MARTA line near
Perimeter Mall.
LOCAL NEWS
by Lauren Ramsdell
At a the District 3 Citizen
Connection Meeting May
29, hosted at the Dunwoody
North Driving Club, Dun-
woody City councilmen
Doug Thompson and John
Heneghan answered ques-
tions about Dunwoodys fu-
ture plans.
As has been the case lately,
many questions were about
proposed parks and road im-
provements in the area.
Pernoshal Park
The final park in the Proj-
ect Renaissance redevelop-
ment, Pernoshal Park, began
its project phase May 29 after
final consensus earlier this
year in January. The park con-
tinues the multi-use trail from
the newly-opened George-
town Park and will connect
eventually to the trail at Brook
Run Park.
The new park will be
geared toward older children
and families.
What is in the plan is a
basketball court, full-size, and
then a minor, smaller multi-
use court, Heneghan said.
The multi-use path is going
from the new development,
which has a playground at one
end, and goes to Brook Run
which has a playground at the
other end, and its a matter of:
do we really need that many
playgrounds for small kids?
Lets make some amenities
and open greenspace.
The smaller use court may
be outfitted for pickleball, a
rapidly-growing racquet sport.
The park has been partially
budgeted for this year, with
the remainder proposed for
fiscal year 2015.
We have budgeted for
2014 right at $1 million for the
Pernoshal Park and the multi-
use trail, Thompson said.
That will not be the full bud-
get for the park, that will be in
the 2015 budget. The thought
process is we start this park
towards the end of 2014 but
finishing around 2015but
will be paid for by cash not by
debtout of the general fund.
Treetop Quest likely a go
Heneghan, Thompson and
other Dunwoody elected of-
ficials in attendance indicated
that the proposed Treetop
Quest amenity at Brook Run
Park is likely to be approved
by the council.
Councilmembers were ap-
proached by Treetop Quest
Inc., a French company that
constructs arboreal obstacle
courses, to put one of the
courses in an underused area
of Brook Run Park. After
opening the bidding process
to other companies, Treetop
Quest was the only applicant.
Councilmembers visited the
Treetop Quest facility at the
Gwinnett Environmental and
Heritage Center to try it for
themselves.
The city has not seen any
formal contracting in front of
us, Heneghan said. We have
some basic outline of what
it is and where its going and
what is going to be the cost
or the benefit to the city. Its a
for-profit company, but its go-
ing to provide a service to the
community in general.
Heneghan further said that
the city is in negotiations with
the company to set a ticket
price.
I wish that we could offer
that amenity at a reasonable
price so that everyday citizens
could use it, he said. Thats
public land; it should be used
in a fashion that is available to
most people.
Residents at the meeting
expressed concern about the
use of park land and the po-
tential increase in traffic in
what is mainly a residential
area. Dunwoody Mayor Mike
Davis was in attendance, and
according to Thompson led
the charge when the council
tried it out. He and others said
that it wasnt a theme-park
type amenity that would draw
huge crowds and many cars.
There were 80-100 kids
there, five acres, and you
couldnt hear a thing, Davis
said. It was basically just kids
concentrating on unharness-
ing one tether to hook on to
another. The kids are concen-
trating so much on the next
step so theres no squealing,
no noise.
Councilman Denny
Shortall stressed the nature of
the partnership that would be
in place between the company
and the city. Treetop Quest
will build, staff and maintain
the facility while providing
a small amount of money to
the city in return. There will
be no tax money spent on the
facility.
The main thrust of the
Treetop Quest obstacle course
is not to get funds into the
general fund, Shortall said.
Thats not our thrust at all.
That just happens to be a by-
product because theyre taking
care of all the expenses, and
we might get a little some-
thing out of it.
Comparisons were drawn
between this new facility and
the skate park and dog park
already at Brook Run Park.
Much like the skate park,
which was also staffed by an
outside company, the canopy
tours will operate outside of
the government. It was com-
pared unfavorably to the dog
park, which was constructed
as a draw for those outside
Dunwoody and many resi-
dents view as a nuisance.
This is an annual con-
tract, so unlike the dog park
where there is no contract and
it was a facility we inherited
from [former DeKalb County
CEO] Vernon Jones and
DeKalb County, this would be
a renewal situation, said Lynn
Deutsch, a councilwoman. At
the end of the day, if its not
going well for either party, the
contract wont be renewed.
Tilly Mill Road intersection
improvements
Also on May 29, Gov. Na-
than Deal announced a grant
to help improve the Tilly Mill
Road intersection with North
Peachtree Road. The city will
receive $784,000 to improve
traffic flow in what can be-
come a congested intersection.
Construction is expected to
begin in 2015.
The intersection will be
open during its redesign and
construction, Thompson
said. Its not going to be real
attractive for a while; some-
times there may be some traf-
fic slowdowns.
The proposed plans in-
clude adding left turn lanes
and signals, extending right
turn lanes, adding a stoplight
at the intersection of North
Peachtree Road and Peeler
Road and synchronizing
that light with the existing
one at Tilly Mill and North
Peachtree. Also planned are
on-street bicycle lanes, im-
proved or added sidewalks
and a grass buffer between
the sidewalks and the bicycle
lanes.
We are in the phase right
now of getting the right-of-
way and the construction
plans in place, Heneghan
said. We hope to have con-
struction going strong in
2015. I am very happy this
is going forward. Its been
Additional details emerge about proposed park amenities in Dunwoody
City of Decatur Georgia Ad Valorem Tax Digest History
Decatur - Digest
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Assessment Ratio 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%
Real Property 1,162,026,500 $ 1,157,883,900 $ 1,149,844,600 $ 1,137,427,809 $ 1,168,516,500 $ 1,326,596,200 $
Personal Property 20,387,500 $ 20,069,600 $ 21,146,700 $ 22,174,136 $ 23,211,680 $ 22,248,300 $
Public Utilities 16,473,600 11,673,700 $ 18,933,750 $ 14,297,200 $ 14,639,953 $ 15,152,700 $
Motor Vehicle 50,081,000 $ 46,119,000 $ 46,119,000 $ 49,311,000 $ 52,979,900 $ 47,331,600 $
Total Digest $1,248,968,600 $1,235,746,200 $1,236,044,050 $1,223,210,145 $1,259,348,033 $1,411,328,800
City Operations
General Fund Exemptions 118,900,000 $ $122,579,000 125,075,000 $ 126,914,000 $ 126,332,000 $ 125,393,000 $
Net City Operations Digest $1,130,068,600 $1,113,167,200 $1,110,969,050 $1,096,296,145 $1,133,016,033 $1,285,935,800
City Operations Millage 13.035 13.035 13.000 13.000 13.000 13.000
City Operations Levy $14,730,444 $14,510,134 $14,442,598 $14,251,850 $14,729,208 $16,717,165
Percent Change 7.54 -1.50 -0.47 -1.32 3.35 13.50
Dollar Amount Change $1,032,306 ($220,310) ($67,537) ($190,748) $477,359 $1,987,957
The Decatur City Commission announces that the 2014 tentative millage rate was adopted at their meeting on
Monday, May 19, 2014. Hearings on the budget and millage rate will be held on:
Monday, June 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Monday, June 9, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, June 16, 2014 at 7:30 pm
The hearings will be held at Decatur City Hall, 509 N. McDonough Street, Decatur, GA. Final adoption of the 2014
millage rate and fiscal year 2014-2015 budget is scheduled for consideration at the Decatur City Commission
meeting on Monday, June 16, 2014. The above table is presented pursuant to O.C.G.A. 48-5-32 showing the
estimated current year's digest and proposed millage rates along with a five-year history of the tax digest and millage
rates.
Dunwoody councilmen John Heneghan and Doug Thompson hosted the Dunwoody District 3 Citizen Connection
Meeting May 29. Photo by Lauren Ramsdell
LOCAL NEWS
Several years ago Emory
University student Kaeya
Majmundar and her room-
mate were running late and
frantically packing to move
out of their dorm room at
the end of their freshman
year. However, it was more
difcult than she expected
because she and her room-
mate hadnt assembled their
packing boxes.
I have a million ideas a
minute; everywhere I turn I
see potential, Majmundar
said. I love the idea of mak-
ing something from noth-
ing.
Majmundar never for-
got that experience and
recently was able to turn it
into an idea good enough
to receive an investment of-
fer on an episode of the hit
television show Shark Tank,
which aired May 18. She
was awarded $50,000 from
Lori Greiner of QVC for a
40 percent stake in her com-
pany.
Afer that experience of
moving out of her dorm,
Majmundar began to con-
template how to streamline
the packing process. Te
answer came to her while
watching her sister folding
a paper crane several years
ago.
I wanted to simplify the
packing process, increase
efciency and save money,
Majmundar said.
Before applying to be on
Shark Tank, Majmundar
won the Collegiate Entre-
preneurs Organizations
National Elevator Pitch
Competition. Following this,
she applied to be on Shark
Tank by submitting a two-
sentence pitch and video to
the shows producers.
Majmundar said she
had almost forgotten about
applying when the shows
producers called and told
her she was one of the 114
applicants selected to appear
on the show.
It was really nerve-
racking, Majmundar said of
appearing on the show. Te
process was so drawn out.
She said the process of
the show made her even
more nervous because she
knew she only had one
chance to appear in front of
the fve investors on Shark
Tank.
It took forever to get
there and I only had one
opportunity to get an invest-
ment from these people so
if I made a mistake, that was
it, Majmundar said.
Majmundar said she ex-
pected Shark Tank investor
Kevin OLeary to be the
toughest person to impress.
However, she said investor
Barbara Corcoran was the
most intimidating. Afer
asking Majmundar about
her background, Corcoran
told her that she had a won-
derful idea but lacked the
listening skills and the drive
to become a successful en-
trepreneur.
Will you allow me to
speak bluntly? Corcoran
asked. You are not an entre-
preneur. Im out.
It was a little bit intense
but she had every right to
say what she said, Majmun-
dar said. Barbara actually
emailed me aferwards to
wish me luck.
Greiner, dubbed the
Queen of QVC, said there
were problems with Maj-
mundars product, called
BZbox. However, she made
her an ofer if Majmundar
promised to work with her
to iron out the kinks.
I think its really clever,
Geary said. You are the
kind of person I like to work
with because you are the
type of person who will do
whatever it takes.
Currently, Majmundar
is working to fll orders on
BZbox and get the product
into retail stores. She also
runs several other busi-
nesses: an online jewelry
company called Ringlee that
allows customers to create a
made-to-order ring featur-
ing any image they upload
to its website; and a physical
therapy product Majmundar
invented afer breaking her
arm last year.
Emory student receives $50,000 investment on Shark Tank
Emory graduate Kaeya Majmundar is an entrepreneur with three companies. She recently appeared on ABCs hit television show Shark Tank. Photos provided
LOCAL NEWS
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County Com-
missioner Larry Johnson is
the subject of an ethics com-
plaint alleging misuse of his
county-issued credit card.
The complaint filed May
27 alleges that Johnson sys-
tematically and consistently
used his county credit card,
referred to as purchasing
cards (P-cards), for his own
personal benefit and con-
trary to the intended pur-
pose of the cards.
Everything I did was for
a public purpose, Johnson
said June 2.
Whether the ethics board
finds something worthy of
being scrutinized is part of
the process, Johnson said.
[I will] let everything take
its due course.
I just think it part of the
process that citizens have,
and I will get an opportunity
to go before the ethics folks,
Johnson said.
Johnson confirmed that
he has been contacted by the
FBI which has reportedly
opened a probe into P-card
use by DeKalb County of-
ficials.
The recent ethics com-
plaints, filed by Rhea John-
son of Decatur, allege that
Larry Johnson and Com-
missioner Sharon Barnes
Sutton systematically and
consistently used their
county credit cards, for their
own personal benefit and
contrary to the intended
purpose.
In the complaint, Rhea
Johnson said, It is my un-
derstanding that this P-card
should not have been used
for any personal uses re-
gardless of the purchasers
intent to repay any sums
charged.
The P-card charges high-
lighted in the ethics com-
plaint against Larry Johnson
include $10,000 to Porter
Sanford III Performing Arts
and Community Center.
Addressing the charges
to the Porter Sanford Cen-
ter, Commissioner Johnson
said, Those are for pro-
gramming.
For more than two years,
Larry Johnson said, he has
been donating funds from
his budget to aid the arts at
the Porter Sanford Center
because the county has cut
funding for the arts.
The funding for the arts
has been very limited dur-
ing the recession. It was very
tight, Larry Johnson said.
Its basically to help
[the center] with program-
ming and things that they
need at that center, he said
about the P-card donations.
Thats one of the cultural
attractions that we have that
help us with economic de-
velopment in District 3.
The funding is used for
programming such as qual-
ity productions and dance
recitals, Larry Johnson said.
The funding is for vari-
ous thingsthat impacts
the taxpayers of our area. It
can help anybody, so its not
specifically targeted for me.
Its just helping make sure
we have performances and
things in our community.
I think thats a worthy
thing, he said. Its a coun-
ty-owned building [and] its
subsidized by the county.
The P-card donations are
what I would consider an
intergovernmental transfer
or just part of subsidizing
and helping the arts out in
our county. So it was for
a public purpose, Larry
Johnson said. Its part of my
budget, so I thought it was
an opportunity to help the
arts in our community.
In an email, Johnsons of-
fice stated that he has come
under budget for the past
three years, by $46,000 in
2011; $51,000 in 2012; and
$29,000 in 2013. Those were
the years that he performed
funding transfers to the
Porter Sanford Center.
Unlike other commis-
sioners, Johnson said all of
the donations he made with
his P-card were for county
projects.
I can only speak for
me, the commissioner said.
The Porter Sanford Center
is county-owned. I wanted
to fund something that the
county is already part of,
thats approved, thats in our
community, that taxpayers
are already behind. Thats
what I thought was a good
use for a public purpose.
Thats why I did what I
did in that whole process,
he said. I cant speak for an-
other commissioner because
I dont know what their in-
tent was.
Other charges highlight-
ed in the ethics complaint
include:
$578.25 for Suburban
Rental, a tool and party
rental store, in July 2013.
Commissioner Johnson
said this was used to rent
tables and chairs for ex-
hibits for his annual child-
hood obesity event.
$1,935 to Customink
Tshirts in August 2013.
This money was used for
purchase participants
T-shirts for a Lets Move,
DeKalb event.
$363.78 at Brookstone
in February 2013 for a
portable LCD projector.
Remember, we have six
commissioners and one
projector, Larry Johnson
said.
According to Johnsons
P-card records obtained by
an Open Records Request,
he spent nearly $27,000
between Jan. 1, 2013, and
April 1, 2014. Among the
charges were $2,891 in hotel
expenses; $2,886 in airplane
expenses; $1,277 to cater
two events; and $142 for
floral arrangements for two
funerals.
Commissioner John-
son said he welcomes the
increased P-card oversight
recently started by interim
DeKalb County CEO Lee
May.
We all need that, John-
son said. We all need to be
held accountable.
Commissioner: Everything I did was for a public purpose
Larry Johnson
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
After failing to get a cityhood bill passed dur-
ing the 2014 legislative session, supporters of the
proposed city of Tucker are continuing their ef-
forts to become a city in 2015.
The City of Tucker 2014 initiative is now the
City of Tucker 2015 initiative. Tucker resident
Michelle Penkava said the mission is still the
same, which is to be recognized and formalized
as a city in the next legislative session.
Going forward we know that legislators and
the general public understands more about Tuck-
ers unique history, Penkava said. Its great be-
cause Tucker is built on a longstanding tradition
of community involvement and public service. Its
about formalizing that because weve been work-
ing together as a community for a long time.
Tucker residents started looking into the city-
hood movement after the proposed Lakeside city
map included areas that are considered a part of
the Tucker community. Bills for Tucker, Lakeside
and Briarcliff all failed to make it to the House
floor for a vote in the last legislative session and
were put on hold until the next legislative session.
The maps of the three proposed cities had
overlapping areas, including the Northlake area.
Lakeside map also included part of Tuckers
30084 ZIP code.
Despite the bill failing in the last session, Pen-
kava said she thinks that the legislators under-
stand that Tucker is unique.
It was amazing to us just the sheer number of
legislators that knew of Tucker, been to Tucker,
visited Tucker and lived in Tucker, but most of
them thought Tucker was already a city.
Penkava said they will continue on the same
path as last year to spread the word about Tucker
and doing what they can to be recognized as a
city.
We had a lot of community support before,
and were just working hard on expanding that by
reaching more people and getting them involved,
she said.
Tucker cityhood efort moving forward to 2015
LOCAL NEWS
WEEK
PICTURES
In
Searching for Our Sons and Daughters:

For a programming guide, visit www.yourdekalb.com/dctv
Now showing on DCTV!
Finding DeKalb Countys Missing
Stories of our missing residents offer profound
insights and hope for a positive reunion.
DCTV Your Emmy Award-winning news source of DeKalb County news. Available on Comcast Cable Channel 23.
Photos brought to you by DCTV
The brick column in front of the Walgreens on DeKalb Industrial Way in Decatur
was compromised after a man drove his car into it. Photo by Carla Parker
Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry paints a sign for his plot in the Clarkston Community
Center garden. See more photos in The Champions Lifestlye section. Photo by
Travis Hudgons
The city of Avondale Estates held the offcial ribbon-cutting ceremony for Wild Heaven Craft Beers on
May 30. Wild Heaven Brewery President Nick Purdy and Brewmaster Eric Johnson along with Avondale
Estates Mayor Ed Rieker and several guests cut the ceremonial ribbon at Wild Heavens 8,000-square-
foot facility with a 30-barrel brewing system in Avondale Estates. Photo by Travis Hudgons
The DeKalb County Police Department welcomed a new group of 23 recent graduates of the countys
police academy to the force May 30. Photo provided
LOCAL NEWS
by Carla Parker
A former DeKalb County
police officer pleaded guilty
to three counts of child mo-
lestation, the DeKalb Coun-
ty District Attorneys Office
announced May 27.
DeKalb County Supe-
rior Court Judge Daniel
Coursey sentenced Manuel
Williams to 10 years in pris-
on, with five years to serve.
DeKalb District Attorney
Robert James said Wil-
liams took an oath to protect
and serve the residents of
DeKalb.
Instead, he molested
a vulnerable young child,
James said. Its always dis-
heartening to see sworn
officers violate the publics
trust.
Williams was indicted
in April for molesting the
13-year-old girl in his home.
According to the indict-
ment, William kissed the
victims neck, touched her
breast and vaginal area
with the intent to arouse
and satisfy the sexual desires
of himself.
The indictment said the
acts happened between May
1 and Dec. 1, 2012. The
exact dates of the crime are
unknown to the grand jury.
Williams, an 18-year
veteran, was arrested at his
home Oct. 23, 2013. After
the arrest, then-police chief
Cedric Alexander said the
investigation into the case
began after the father of the
victim reported the crime to
police Oct. 12, 2013.
Alexander said Williams
confessed to the charge and
offered his resignation, but
Williams and his attorney,
Gerald Griggs, disputed
that claim and then denied
the charges at an Oct. 25,
2013, press conference.
There was never a full
confession, Griggs said at
the press conference. What
there was corroboration by
a dedicated officer to tell the
truth. Now how the police
misconstrued and turned
that around is up for ques-
tioning to them. But at no
point did he confess to any
child molestation.
Griggs said June 2 that
after a long discussion
with Williams about the
case, his client wanted to
save his family the difficul-
ty of going through a trial.
He decided to cut a
negotiation plea with the
district attorneys office for
a lesser amount of time, he
said.
Griggs previously said
there were several witnesses,
including Williams daugh-
ter, that would testify that no
child molestation occurred.
Griggs said that despite the
witnesses it still would have
been up to 12 jurors to de-
cide Williams fate.
Mr. Williams wanted to
take that risk away from his
case and have some control
over the amount of punish-
ment thats possible, Griggs
said. So he decided, after
being counseled by me, to
avoid that risk and avoid the
hardship and potential dam-
age of a trial to his family. So
he decided to accept respon-
sibility.
Williams turned himself
in May 30. Once he is re-
leased, he must register as
a sex offender and undergo
sex offender treatment. He
also will not be able to have
any unsupervised contact
with minors.
Hopefully this plea will
provide the victim and the
family some level of closure
in this horrific situation,
James said.
Crime in DeKalb down,
despite recent rash of events
Interim DeKalb County
Police Chief James Conroy
said during the past year, the
county has experienced a
drop in violent crime and in
property crime.
According to Conroy,
violent crimes are down 5
percent since last year and
property crimes are down 18
percent.
Conroy said there has
been a recent series of
violent crimes, such as the
shooting that claimed the life
of 9-month-old KenDarious
Edwards Jr. Police believe
the shooting involving Ed-
wards, in which three others
at the home were also shot,
was retaliation for another
shooting.
This is where the mis-
conceptions of gang violence
can come in, Conroy said.
This series of crimes that
were talking about, many of
the players involved are be-
lieved to be gang members,
but its not what we would
think of as gang violence.
DeKalb County Police
spokeswoman Mekka Parish
said often, individuals will
commit a crime for which
theyre arrested and, later be
identified as a gang member.
Conroy said the drop in
violent and property crimes
can be attributed to several
factors.
Weve tried a number
of different things, and
were always looking at what
works and what doesnt
work, Conroy said. We
look at crime as it occurs
and receive daily, weekly and
monthly reports from our
crime analysts and we try to
adapt and respond as quickly
as possible to those situa-
tions.
Conroy attributes the
drop in violent crimes, to
quicker response times. The
drop in property crimes is
due to a reduction in resi-
dential burglaries and ve-
hicle break-ins, he said.
After noting a series of
similar crimes in one area,
Conroy said, police have
begun to increase their pres-
ence in an area immediately
after a robbery occurs.
That is what has helped
us the most in property
crimes, Conroy said.
The drop in vehicle
break-ins, Conroy said, is
attributed to focusing on the
offenders, which he said are
usually juveniles that un-
fortunately get released right
after being arrested.
Conroy said an area of
property crime that has in-
creased is pedestrian robber-
ies due to cell phone thefts.
Former police ofcer pleads guilty
Williams
County moves forward with economic development plan
DeKalb County commis-
sioners were presented with
a draft outlining the third
phase of the countys new
economic development plan
at a recent meeting.
Currently, the county is
in the third phase of devel-
oping the plan by identify-
ing target industries and
businesses. Each target in-
dustry identifed in the plan
was chosen according to
which industries are strong
and centrally located; re-
fect national growth trends;
have a competitive edge;
and meet the goals of the
community.
The plan details DeKalb
Countys assets including
its strategic location, low
cost of living, affordable
housing options, higher
education institutions and
accessibility to public trans-
portation.
Additionally, the assess-
ment outlines the largest
industries in the county.
According to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, the largest
industry in the county is the
health care sector, which
employs approximately
35,000. The second larg-
est is retail trade, which
employs 30,978. The hos-
pitality industry employs
approximately 20,000.
The data in the report
also track growth trends
within each industry in
comparison to national
trends. Industries that
have experienced positive
growth in previous years,
according to the plan, are
logistics, construction and
advanced manufacturing.
Luz Borrero, develop-
ment director for DeKalb
County, told commissioners
that the plan was developed
using the results of more
than 1,700 stakeholder sur-
veys and community meet-
ings with residents.
Borrero said Angelou
Economics, the frm that
created the draft plan, also
surveyed more than 100
businesses in the area and
held one-on-one meetings
with DeKalb County com-
missioners.
The consultant did not
begin with any assump-
tions, Borrero said. They
have a national methodolo-
gy that they used to develop
these plans, and the meth-
odology is essentially one
that begins with getting the
input of the local [residents]
and businesses.
After using the surveys
and interviews to create
a foundation for the plan,
Borrero said representatives
from Angelou met with
members of the DeKalb
County Chamber of Com-
merce, DeKalb Develop-
ment Authority and the
DeKalb Convention and
Visitors Bureau to collect
data, which was used to
create the fnal draft.
Commissioner Sharon
Barnes Sutton expressed
concern that the countys
objectives arent always in-
line with those of the cham-
ber of commerce, develop-
ment authority and conven-
tion and visitors bureau.
Were not always on
the same board, and were
not progressing the same
waywe need to sit down
together and plan together
so we all feel that were do-
ing the same things, Sutton
said. We shouldnt be pull-
ing against each other or
even be slightly offthats
been something lacking.
Additionally, Sutton said
that she has seen a lack of
institutional knowledge
in the planning process.
There [are] so many
new people that they dont
know what happened in
DeKalb County 10 years
ago, they dont know the
history. So, theyre rebuild-
ing things and making
assumptions on lack of
knowledge, Sutton said.
Buck Continued From Page 1A
THE CHAMPION FREE PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014 PAGE 15A LOCAL NEWS
receive a college scholarship un-
der Godfrey. But more important
than playing for Godfrey, Shanks
remembered what his coach
meant to him of the feld. He
really turned my life around,
Shanks said. My parents passed
away when I was 10. He was a fa-
ther fgure to me. It was his guid-
ance that positively impacted me.
Many of Godfreys former
players echoed similar senti-
ments, noting that as a man and
leader, his impact on the DeKalb
community was immeasurable.
Former athletes and students
came to witness Godfreys Hall of
Fame induction, along with fam-
ily and friends.
And many of them saw God-
frey as a life coach, realizing that
it wasnt only about what hap-
pened on the feld, but how they
conducted themselves of the
feld.
He was concerned about the
total personthats his great-
est legacy, said David Burgess,
a member of his Gordon High
School baseball team.
He was a father fgure, teach-
ing lessons on the feld that I
apply todayas a father, hus-
band and as a professional, Dr.
Marchell Boston III, Southwest
DeKalb alumni and current prin-
cipal at Stone Mill Elementary,
said.
Steven Davenport was of-
fensive coordinator at Southwest
DeKalb High School from 1994-
96, when the school won the
1995 GHSA Class AAAAA state
championship. Te Southwest
DeKalb alumni also played under
Godfrey. He established South-
west DeKalb as the place to be. I
think he saved that community.
Te band and Southwest DeKalb
football saved the south end of
DeKalb.
Godfrey is also a husband to
his wife, Joyce, of 45 years, and a
father.
Everyone has a Buck story
good, bad or indiferent, TV per-
sonality and Godfreys daughter
Rashan Ali said. It always was
about more than just victories
with my father. It was about mak-
ing boys and girls into women
and men.
Championship coach and Eng-
lish teacher are not the only titles
on Godfreys rsum. Hes also
an author. He has written three
books including Te Team No-
body Would Play, which tells the
story of 14 Black boys who were
chosen as Little League All-Stars
in the Charleston, S.C., Little
League Baseball Tournament in
1955 but could not play due to
segregation.
Colin, Godfreys son, was his
fathers presenter at the Hall of
Fame induction. As he spoke
about his fathers accomplish-
ments, he became overwhelmed
with emotions causing a few tears
to fall and his voice to tremble.
To us he is simply dad. Al-
ways had and made the time [for
us].
DeKalb County Athletics Di-
rector Horace Dunson stated,
His level of impact on young
men and the community is tre-
mendous. Hes one of those fg-
ures that in tough times we can
solidify him as a pillar in our
community.
Even though hes now retired,
Godfrey lef a lasting positive
infuence within the DeKalb
County community, and with
those fortunate enough to be
taught, coached and mentored by
him. His legacy will not soon be
forgotten.
From left, William Buck Godfrey and his wife of 45 years Joyce and their children Colin and Rashan.
Godfreys Gordan high School baseball team.
Photos by Travis Hudgons
LOCAL NEWS
The Wylde Centers
spring membership drive
underway
The Wylde Center is
the green, beating heart of
Atlanta, said Wylde Center
member Denis Gainty, in a
news release announcing the
centers spring membership
drive.
The center is an envi-
ronmental organization
that engages people of all
ages with their environ-
ment, health and commu-
nity through special events,
classes and programs that
develop creative skills in
sustainable urban living,
organic gardening, health
and nutrition, according
to the news release. The
organization oversees four
Atlanta public greenspaces
that serve as urban com-
munity gardens, nature cen-
ters, neighborhood meeting
spaces and wildlife habitats.
We couldnt begin to do
what we do without the sup-
port of our members, said
executive director Stephanie
Van Parys, in the announce-
ment. Membership dues
fund the care and mainte-
nance of the Wylde Centers
four urban greenspaces, al-
lowing them to be open to
the public for free. Member-
ships also support our edu-
cational programming, farm
to school activities, com-
munity outreach, plant sales,
camps and so much more.
Members receive dis-
counts on Wylde Center
programs and events and
invitations to members-
only activities. They also
receive the centers quarterly
newsletter, which is full of
educational and entertaining
information about garden-
ing, nutrition and the envi-
ronment.
Annual membership dues
are $15 for students, $35 for
adults and $50 for families.
To purchase member-
ships, visit www.wyldecen-
ter.org/personal-and-family-
memberships, or stop by the
Oakhurst Garden during
regular business hours, 435
Oakview Road, Decatur.
Congressman announces
U.S. Service Academy
nominations
Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-
04) announced the names
of Fourth District students
who have been nominated
to attend a U.S. Service
AcademyMilitary Academy
(West Point), Naval Acad-
emy, Air Force Academy,
Coast Guard Academy, and
Merchant Marine Academy.
DeKalb County nomi-
nees include: Joshua Chat-
field of Saint Pius X High
School, U.S. Military Acad-
emy; Gerald Coleman of
Redan High School, U.S.
Merchant Marine Acad-
emy; Xavier Hightower of
Chamblee High School of
U.S. Naval Academy; Darien
Johnson of Stephenson
High School, U.S. Air Force
Academy; Hein Pang of
Druid Hills High School,
U.S. Air Force Academy;
of Jhane Price of DeKalb
School for the Arts, U.S. Air
Force Academy.
The nomination process
is not easy, Johnson said.
Its a long, difficult road,
and I congratulate all our
nominees on making it this
far. All of our outstanding
nominees possess the kind
of leadership skills necessary
to be successful in school,
business and in life. Gradu-
ating from a service acad-
emy ensures a good career
after graduation and opens
doors for the rest of their
lives.
Medline master plan to be
revealed June 5
The DeKalb County De-
partment of Planning and
Sustainability is nearing
completion of the Medline
Livable Centers Initiative
(LCI) study and is seeking
input from residents.
An event to showcase
the master plan process is
scheduled for Thursday,
June 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at
the International Communi-
ty School, 2418 Wood Trail
Lane, Decatur. The public
is invited to drop in during
the open house to review
and give feedback on master
plan concepts.
The open house will
take participants out into
the study area to highlight
plan recommendations and
concepts, while master plan
designs and a process over-
view will be on display at the
school. Temporary instal-
lations such as a pedestrian
boulevard and crosswalk
designs will be used to
demonstrate the projects. A
bike tour will depart from
the school at 7 p.m. to show
recommended bike trail
connections. Residents must
bring a bike and safety gear
to participate in this exer-
cise. Experts will be avail-
able to answer questions and
record the publics input.
The Medline LCI study
area, which is defined by
Jordan Lane to the north,
Medlock Road to the west,
Remington Lane to the
south and DeKalb Industrial
Way to the east, and is home
to the DeKalb Medical Cen-
ter, Patel Plaza and well as
established neighborhoods.
The potential growth
and redevelopment of the
Medline area and current
economic conditions have
led to the need for a proac-
tive approach in guiding
future land use decisions,
according to a news release.
For more information on
the project, visit the proj-
ect website at https://sites.
google.com/site/medlinel-
cistudy or contact DeKalb
County project manager
Shawanna Qawiy at (404)
371-9771 or SQawiy@dekal-
bcountyga.gov.
Adopt-A-Stream water
quality workshop set for
June 7
DeKalb County Adopt-

A-Stream is hosting a work-
shop to train volunteers on
how to collect water samples
from streams and how to in-
terpret water quality data.
The workshop will be
held Saturday, June 7, from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hall
Historical and Environmen-
tal Education Center, 2003
Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone
Mountain. The focus will be
on bacteria monitoring. At
the conclusion of the work-
shop, volunteers will earn
a certificate that will allow
them to enter information
into a statewide database.
There is no fee for the
class, but pre-registration is
required and limited to the
first 20 people.
For more information
or to register for the work-
shop, please contact Michael
OShield, environmental
education specialist, at (770)
724-1456 or by email at
msoshield@dekalbcountyga.
gov.
News Briefs
Beacon
Continued From Page 3A
the classrooms for artists,
Saxon said.
Saxon said the area had
a history of flooding and its
stormwater drainage wasnt
adequate. So, the city decided
to build a stormwater reten-
tion facility in a soccer field
located behind the center.
Once the stormwater facility
is complete it will be covered
with dirt and new sod will be
laid for a new soccer field.
Currently, Saxon said the
board of education and its
staff are occupying their new
facility although construc-
tion is not yet complete.
Westchester Elementary,
where the school board was
previously located, will be re-
opened as a school this year.
Decatur spokeswoman
Casie Yoder said throughout
the facilities, there will be ex-
hibits detailing the history of
the area and the buildings.
An outdoor lawn and
plaza area central to the new
facilities will be available for
performances, movies and
other community events.
Yoder said much of the
existing structure of the
school boards building was
maintained as well as the
faade for the Ebster Recre-
ation Center.
Much of the existing
gym, library and school
building will become a living
museum honoring alumni
of the Herring Street, Trin-
ity High and Beacon schools
that were located there in the
1960s, Yoder said.
LOCAL NEWS


The City of Chamblee has tentatively adopted a new millage rate of 6.40 mills for the portion of the City annexed on December
30, 2013.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Chamblee Civic Center located at
3540 Broad St, Chamblee Georgia on June 12, 2014. There will be one hearing at 11:30 AM and another at 6:00 PM.

An additional public hearing on this tax increase will be held at the Chamblee Civic Center on June 30, 2014 at 6:00 PM.

This tentative new millage rate of 6.40 mills for the newly annexed properties will result in an increase of 6.40 mills. Without this
tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be 0 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market value of $125,000 is
approximately $320.00 and the proposed tax increase for non-homestead property with a fair market value of $450,000 is
approximately $1,152.00.

State of Georgia statues do not specifically address the setting of the initial millage rate for a newly annexed area by a municipality but the City of Chamblee is
advertising a Notice of Property Tax Increase, with associated public hearing notification, in order to ensure full disclosure of its intent to levy property taxes in the
area annexed on December 30, 2013. The millage rate of 6.40 proposed for the annexed area is the same as that proposed for the rest of the City and is below the
rollback millage rate and therefore would not constitute a tax increase for the rest of the City.

TheCityofChambleeCityCouncildoesherebyannouncethatthemillageratewillbesetatameetingtobeheldattheChambleeCivic
Centerlocatedat3540BroadStreet,Chamblee,GeorgiaonJune30,2014at6:00PMandpursuanttotherequirementsofGa.Code
48532doesherbypublishthefollowingpresentationofthecurrentyear'staxdigestandlevy,alongwiththehistoryofthetaxdigest
andlevyforthepastfiveyears.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Real&Personal 575,089,705 533,197,959 797,623,949 729,978,100 723,574,965 996,371,051
MotorVehicles&HeavyEquipment 16,118,770 14,546,770 14,131,410 22,076,110 27,471,830 23,809,872
PublicUtilities 10,769,822 9,563,181 11,087,937 9,128,386 9,726,659 10,289,198
GrossDigest 601,978,297 557,307,910 822,843,296 761,182,596 760,773,454 1,030,470,121
LessExemptions 44,074,131 44,896,783 88,432,680 83,119,557 86,685,769 135,524,124
AdjustedNetDigest 557,904,166 512,411,127 734,410,616 678,063,039 674,087,685 894,945,997
GrossMillageRage 6.31 7.95 7.4 7.4 6.4 6.4
NetTaxesLevied 3,520,375 4,073,668 5,434,639 5,017,666 4,314,161 5,727,654
NetTaxes$Increase 762,814 553,293 1,360,970 (416,972) (703,505) 1,413,493
NetTaxes%increase 27.66% 15.72% 33.41% 7.67% 14.02% 32.76%
CURRENT 2014 TAX DIGEST AND FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF LEVY
NOTICE
The newly formed Task
Force on DeKalb County
Operations will discuss a
range of issues, including the
current governance structure
of the county, the Homestead
Option Sales Tax (HOST),
ethics and transparency,
among other things at its
first meeting.
Interim DeKalb County
CEO Lee May created the
task force with the support of
the DeKalb County Board of
Commissioners through an
executive order in March.
May has been a vocal pro-
ponent in exploring a change
in the countys governance
structure.
We need some fresh eyes
on these issues, and we need
representatives from a myri-
ad of government agencies to
participate, as these are com-
plex issues, May said.
The 15-member com-
mittee consists of legislators
and officials from DeKalb
County and surrounding
area including Commission-
ers Sharon Barnes Sutton,
Jeff Rader and Stan Watson,
senators Gloria Butler and
Elena Parent, Representa-
tives Karla Drenner and
Billy Mitchell and David
L. Sjoquist, professor of
economics and director of
domestic programs at the
Andrew Young School of
Policy Studies Georgia State
University.
The task force also will
explore the financial, busi-
ness, zoning and quality
of life impact on DeKalb
County residents, as well as
the effects of annexation and
cityhood.
For instance, under the
current law, the distribu-
tion of capital funding from
Homestead Optional Sales
Tax between unincorporated
and incorporated portions
of the county is extremely
unequal. Nearly 75 percent
of the revenue goes to the
cities with less than 20 per-
cent of the population, May
said. It is my sincere hope
this task force can come to
a consensus on how we can
fix DeKalb in one fell swoop
and make the most of the
one year cooling off period
that we asked the Georgia
General Assembly to afford
us.
According to a news re-
lease, the 15-member panel
also includes three nonvoting
members appointed by the
Georgia Municipal Associa-
tion and the Association of
County Commissioners of
Georgia. Former Decatur
Mayor Bill Floyd is one of
the nonvoting members ap-
pointed by the municipal as-
sociation.
Im encouraged that
theyre willing to look at
these thingsIm cautious
and Im a little bit concerned
of the purpose of having
nonvoting members on the
task force, Floyd said.
Floyd said that he is in a
wait and see mode and will
reserve judgment on what
the task forces intent is and
what it hopes to accomplish.
DeKalb operations task force sets topics for frst meeting
held at the Chamblee Civic
Center June 12 at 11:30 a.m.
and 6 p.m., and June 30 at 6
p.m.
Jay Vinicki, DeKalb
Countys policy, research and
analysis director, said the
Board of Commissioners has
scheduled a budget retreat
June 13 to discuss mid-year
changes to the countys tax
digest.
Recent internal esti-
mates have grown higher
countywide than the original
1 percent figure used in Feb-
ruary, Vinicki said.
The county is required to
finalize it tax digest no later
than July 8.
Millage
Continued From Page 6A
Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May signs an executive order creating a task force to explore DeKalb Countys
government and operations. Photo provided
BUSINESS
The Voice of Business in DeKalb County
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
404.378.8000 www.DeKalbChamber.org
Two Decatur Town Center, 125 Clairemont Ave., Suite 235, Decatur, GA 30030
Franchise ftness facility owner says he wants club to be a community gym
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF
EDUCATION

1st PUBLIC
MILLAGE RATE HEARING

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

TIME LOCATION
6:00 p.m. J. David Williamson Board Room
Administrative & Instructional Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd.
Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Citizens interested in reviewing a detailed copy of the
program based budget may do so by visiting the DeKalb
County School District website at www.dekalb.k12.ga.us.

FOR INFORMATION, CALL THE OFFICE OF THE
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT 678-676-0069.
by Kathy Mitchell
kathy@dekalbchamp.com
Bill Aicklen owns five
Workout Anytime locations
in the Atlanta area, but said
the first gym franchise he
boughtin the Decatur
areais special to him.
We think of it as a com-
munity gym and thats how
we want our customers to
think of it. The area around
us is largely residential.
There are several public and
private schools, so there are
lots of families in the area.
We want them to think of us
as their gym, Aicklen said.
With a mixture of high
school and college students,
working adults and retired
residents, the community
has responded well to the
flexibility and affordable
cost Workout Anytime
gyms offer, he said. Workout
Anytime is a 24-hour, seven-
day-a-week fitness concept,
where membership rates
start at $15 a month and
theres no contract.
The average member age
at the Lavista Road loca-
tionearly 40sis slightly
higher than the average for
the more than 50 locations
nationwide, according to
Aicklen. Anyone whos at
least 12 years old can join.
Members must be at least
16 to come unaccompanied.
The oldest member at this
location is 93, he added.
There are also several
health care facilities in the
area that operate around the
clock. Nurses, doctors and
other healthcare providers
may get off work at 3 a.m.
and want to get in a workout
before they go home. They
can do that here, Aicklen
said.
Aicklen said Workout
Anytime is for people who
just want to stay fit. Its
not a social gathering place
where people come to see
and be seen. Its OK if youre
not in great shape already or
dont own stylish workout
clothes. Women know they
can come in without make-
up, get in their workout and
head home or to work.
The facility has mens and
womens locker rooms to ac-
commodate those who want
to work out, then shower,
dress and head straight for
work.
Personal trainers can be
engaged for an additional
fee, Aicklen said; however,
Workout Anytime is not the
place for serious bodybuild-
ers. The equipment we
have is designed for regular
men and women who like
to exercise regularly. The
heaviest weights we have are
100 pounds, he noted.
Despite that, the Lakeside
area facility was recently
visited by one of the worlds
most famous bodybuild-
ersseven-time Mr. Olym-
pia Arnold Schwarzeneg-
ger, who later became an
actor in addition to serving
two terms as governor of
California. Hes back to act-
ing and a scene in his latest
movie called for him to be
working out in a gym. The
scene was shot here. I found
out later that he used fake
weights for the shot, Aick-
len said with a chuckle.
Aicklen said he and his
brother, who lives in Texas
but is part owner of the
Atlanta area gyms, owned
other businesses before pur-
chasing the Workout Any-
time facilities, and find them
the most successful ventures
theyve had. Even in the off
hours when theres no staff
present, the business is still
operating. Members have
cards they can use to let
themselves in at any time,
he explained.
The Workout Anytime
concept came about by ac-
cident. In 1999, a Doug-
lasville, Ga., fitness equip-
ment salesman needed
a place to show off his
merchandise and rented a
gym that had gone out of
business. The owners started
letting people use the equip-
ment at a low rate at odd
hours and the idea quickly
became popular. They
turned it into a business
model.
People love being able
to schedule workouts to fit
their lifestyles. They can
come during the day, early
morning, late at night
whatever works for them,
Aicklen said. He recalled
very few times when the
Owner Bill Aicklen and manager Kip Schoepke say their equipment is selected for ordinary men and women who want to stay ft. Photo by Kathy
Mitchell
gym wasnt open. We had
to close for a few days when
we had those bad winter
storms earlier this year. Oh,
yes, and when Schwarzeneg-
ger was here.
EDUCATION
I might as well stay in school
As a middle school
student, Kissi Jefferson
was constantly involved in
physical altercations with
her peers, missed classes
regularly, and dealt with
challenging family obliga-
tions while growing up with
a mother who stayed under
the influence.
When I came to high
school, it all carried over,
she said. I really hated
school and I never wanted
to come.
Jefferson entered the
ninth grade last year at Tow-
ers High School as a casel-
oad student of Communities
In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta.
At first I rejected CIS
because at home nobody fo-
cuses on school. My mom is
an alcoholic and my sisters
got pregnant in high school;
most people in my family
never even considered col-
lege, she said. I went to
[the Department of Family
and Children Services] for a
couple of months and came
back and thought I might as
well stay in school because
thats whats going to get me
out of this situation.
Jefferson began work-
ing with CIS of Atlanta site
coordinator Derec Oby,
known affectionately as Mr.
O, who pushed the teen to
strive to do better academi-
cally.
Before, I was [focused
on] nothing except running
in the streets, Jefferson said.
Mr. O inspired me to go
to college and now Im [fo-
cused on] going to college,
getting a scholarship and
becoming a better person. I
dont want to be the person I
was before because that per-
son was bad and had noth-
ing going for her.
The now 17-year-old
is ready to enter the 11th
grade and has her mind set
on pursuing a career as a
neurologist and eventually
becoming a drug addiction
counselor. And she credits
CIS with her new-found
success.
Jefferson is one of the
more than 16,000 students
CIS of Atlanta works with
at 15 partner schools within
Atlanta Public Schools,
Fulton County and DeKalb
County.Additionally, she
is one of the 1,100 students
who benefit from CIS of
Atlantas intensive case man-
agement services.
CIS of Atlanta is an
award-winning dropout
prevention organization that
was established in Atlanta in
1972.CIS site coordinators
work within local schools to

The DeKalb County School District has tentatively adopted a millage rate which
will require an increase in property taxes by 6.54 percent.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearing on this tax increase to be
held at 6:00 p.m. June 25, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David
Williamson Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain,
Georgia

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at:

1:00 p.m. July 7, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson
Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia

6:30 p.m. July 7, 2014, DeKalb County School District J. David Williamson
Board Room, 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia

This tentative increase will result in a millage rate of 23.98 mills, an increase of
1.471 mills. Without this tentative tax increase, the millage rate will be no more
than 22.509 mills. The proposed tax increase for a home with a fair market
value of $75,000 is approximately $25.74 and the proposed tax increase for
non-homestead property with a fair market value of $100,000 is approximately
$58.84.

address barriers to student
achievement including poor
attendance and behavior,
low levels of parental in-
volvement, limited exposure
to academic and career
enrichment opportunities
and a lack of access to basic
necessities including shelter,
clothing and school supplies.
Ive been coming to
school almost every day. Im
starting to love school now
that I know I have a better
future in going to college;
Im excited, she said. CIS is
very inspirational. You cant
just come to CIS and think
youre going to change; you
have toworkfor it because
change is not easy.
From left, Towers High student Kissi Jefferson meets with Derec Oby, a coordinator with Communities in Schools of Atlanta. Photos provided
LOCAL NEWS
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DISCLAIMER: We do not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate, or intend to discriminate, on any illegal basis. Nor do we knowingly accept employment advertisements
that are not bona-fide job offers. All real estate advertisements are subject to the fair housing act and we do not accept advertising that is in violation of the law. The law prohibits
discrimination based on color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status.
The Champion is not responsible for any damages resulting from advertisements. All sales fnal.
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All ads are prepaid! All Major credit cards accepted!
For Prices, Deadlines and Information
Visit www.championclassifeds.com
Classifieds
TheChampion
Ads Due By Friday - Noon
for next publication date.
LOCAL NEWS
COMBINED NOTICE
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOTICE TO THE
PUBLIC OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
June 5, 2014
DeKalb County Human and Community Development Department
150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 330
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Telephone (404) 286-3308
TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:
Te DeKalb County Human and Community Development Department gives notice that it will submit a request for release of
grant funds and an environmental certifcation pertaining to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 15
days following this publication. Te request and certifcation relate to the following projects.
Project: Mountain View Senior Residences
Location: 901 4th Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Purpose: Te Housing Authority of DeKalb has an increasing need for afordable senior housing. Mountain View Senior
Residences is a proposed residential community of 80 apartment homes reserved and targeted for seniors. Residency will be
restricted to occupants aged 62 years and older who a capable of living in an independent community. Te newly constructed
community will be located within the city limits of Stone Mountain GA, adjacent to historic Stone Mountain. Tis infll site will
further enrich the lives of residents with the pursuit of the Earthcraf Multifamily certifcation which will have long-term fnancial
benefts for residents, owners and fnancial stakeholders. Te development team considered green design and building options
such as site planning, moisture control, indoor air quality, high performance building envelope, energy efcient systems and op-
erations, and innovation.
HOME Funding, in the amount of $1,300,000, is a proposed source of permanent funding for this $11,262,453 redevelopment
project.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)
It has been determined that such request for release of funds will not constitute an action signifcantly afecting the quality of the
human environment and, accordingly, DeKalb County has decided not to prepare Environmental Impact Statements under the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190).
Te reasons for the decision not to prepare such Statements are as follows:
An Environmental Assessment has been made for the project which concludes that all adverse efects will be minor, short-term
impacts will be mitigated by either the requirements of the construction contract documents or by the requirements of applicable
local, state or federal permits and environmental ordinances. Te positive efects of providing mixed income housing and improv-
ing environmental conditions for low and moderate-income families outweigh any potential negative impacts. Tis project is con-
sistent with the goals and objectives of DeKalb County Government and the Human and Community Development Department.
Te Environmental Review Record, respecting the proposed project, has been made by DeKalb County which documents the en-
vironmental review of the project and fully sets forth the reasons why such Environmental Impact Statements are not required.
Te Environmental Review Record is on fle at the DeKalb County Human and Community Development Department, 150 E.
Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 330, Decatur, Georgia 30030 and is available for public examination and copying upon request be-
tween the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
No further environmental reviews of the subject project are proposed to be conducted prior to the request for release of Federal
funds.
Public Comments on FONSI
All interested agencies, groups, and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consid-
eration by DeKalb County to the Human and Community Development Director. Written comments will be received at 150 E.
Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 330, Decatur, Georgia on or before June 20, 2014. All comments received will be considered and
DeKalb County will not request the release of Federal funds or take any administrative action on the proposed projects prior to the
date specifed in the preceding sentence.
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS (NOI/RROF)
At least one day afer the termination of the public comment period for the FONSI, but not before comments on the FONSI have
been considered and resolved, DeKalb County will submit a Request for Release of Funds (RROF) and certifcation to HUD. By
so doing DeKalb County will ask HUD to allow it to commit funds to this project, certifying that (1) it has performed the environ-
mental reviews prescribed by HUD regulations (Environmental Review Procedures for Title I Community Development Block
Grant Program - 24 CFR part 58), and (2) the Certifying Ofcer, Chris Morris, Director, DeKalb County Human and Community
Development Department, consents to accept and enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental reviews or resulting
decision-making and action. Te legal efect of the certifcation is that by approving it, HUD will have satisfed its responsibilities
under the National Environmental Act, thus allowing DeKalb County to commit CDBG funds to this project.
Objection to Release of Funds
HUD will accept objections to its approval of the release of funds and the certifcation only if it is on one of the following basis: (a)
that the certifcation was not in fact executed by the Certifying Ofcer; or (b) that the applicants Environmental Review Record
for the project indicated omission of a required decision, funding, or step applicable to the project in the environmental review
process. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance to HUD at the Regional Environmental Branch, U.S. Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development, 40 Marietta Street N.W., 15th foor, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-9812.
Objections to the release of funds on basis other than those stated above will not be considered by HUD. No objection received
afer July 8, 2014 will be considered by HUD.

Chris H. Morris, Director
DeKalb County Community
Development Department
150 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 330, Decatur, Georgia 30030
Date of Publication and Dissemination of Notice June 5, 2014
by Carla Parker
Antioch A.M.E. Church
in Stone Mountain hit by
thieves again.
The churchs five air-con-
ditioning units were taken
apart piece by piece May 12
during the night hours on
its 765 South Hairston Road
campus.
James Simon, a volun-
teer administrator, said the
thieves took the units apart,
stealing the copper, compres-
sors and a chunk of the metal
frame.
This copper thing peaks;
it comes and it goes, Simon
said. They start hitting busi-
nesses regularly then it slows
down a little bit then it starts
happening again. Thats
the phase that were going
through.
Simon said he did not
have the final cost of replac-
ing the air conditioning
units.
Antioch A.M.E. has been
targeted numerous times
by thieves over the past five
years. Simon said that over a
two-year period, thieves stole
the catalytic converters from
the church van at least six
times.
No matter what we did
to secure the van they would
break in and take it, Simon
said.
The church now has a bus
that is in a secure location.
Thieves also stole the church
bell from the back yard of
the church.
Neither the bell nor other
items have been recovered,
and no suspects have been
named in either incidents.
We have no idea who
is doing this, Simon said.
Weve had vague descrip-
tions on a couple of things
but no one has been caught.
Simon said the church
has updated its security mea-
sures and once the church
gets a new air-conditioning
unit, church leaders plan to
put a cage around the unit.
Its been tough, but well
be OK, Simon said. Were
taking measures and praying,
of course.
Stone
Mountain
church hit
by thieves
again
SPORTS
Agnes Scott softball player named to academic All-American team
Agnes Scott junior Ashley Monsrud
was selected as a third-team Academic
All-American May 22, becoming the
first Agnes Scott softball player to earn
College Sports Information Directors of
America Academic All-American honors.
She is also the second consecutive stu-
dent-athlete from Agnes Scott to earn the
honor, joining tennis player Rachel Storz,
who was named an Academic All-District
team member last year.
In her career, Monsrud has 97 hits, a
.363 batting average, 20 doubles, eight
triples and two home runs. She also has
62 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. She was a
member of the 2012 GSAC All-Freshman
Team and the 2014 All-Conference Team.
In the 2013-14 season, Monsrud had
only three errors and a .989 fielding per-
centage. She had a .418 batting average,
46 hits, 13 doubles and a team high of 5
triples. She led the team in on-base per-
centage with .500 and had a slugging per-
centage of .655.
In the classroom, the junior has a 3.95
GPA as a physics major, is a member of
the American Physical Society, presented
research on massive star formation at a
major regional conference, is a physics tu-
tor, and is a SAAC committee member. In
addition, she has more than 100 volunteer
hours at a nursing home along with many
other accomplishments.
All of our teams have been working
hard to improve over the past few years,
said athletic director Joeleen Akin. Our
student-athletes have always been strong
academically and now that we are becom-
ing more competitive on the field, we are
able to get recognized by our peers with
awards like this. I am proud to see an-
other Agnes Scott student earn Academic
All-American status, and I hope to see the
trend continue.
The No. 1-ranked Emory
womens tennis team captured its
sixth national title after defeating
No. 2 Amherst in the finals of the
NCAA Division III Champion-
ships May 21 in Claremont, Calif.
The Eagles captured their 16th
consecutive match and improved
their record to 28-2 following a
5-1 decision over Amherst, which
closed out its season at 22-4. The
title is the first for the Eagles since
2006 and joins the 1996, 2003,
2004 and 2005 squads as other
Emory teams to win national
titles.
Emory held a 2-1 lead after the
doubles portion of the match with
its No. 2 team of sophomore Bea
Rosen and junior Rebecca Siegler
defeating Amhersts Jen Newman
and Zoe Pangalos 8-1.
The Eagles extended its lead
when the No. 3 tandem of senior
Brenna Kelly and freshman Kata-
rina Su defeated Safi Aly and Sar-
ah Monteagudo 8-3. Amherst got
on the board at first doubles when
Jordan Brewer and Gabby Devlin
defeated Emory senior Gabrielle
Clark and freshman Michelle Sat-
terfield, holding on for an 8-5 vic-
tory after leading at one point in
the match by a 7-2 count.
Freshman Melissa Goodman
accounted for the first of the three
singles points that Emory needed
to clinch the match, coming
through with a 6-1, 6-2 win over
Sue Ghosh in No. 4 singles. Clark
boosted Emory to a 4-1 lead, and
just 1 point shy of the title, after
defeating Brewer 6-1, 6-4 in No. 1
singles.
Su then closed out the compe-
tition to win the championship
with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mon-
teagudo in No. 6 singles. The Nos.
2, 3 and 5 singles matches were in
process when Sus match ended,
and go in the books as unfinished.
Clark won the NCAA Division
III Womens Singles Champion-
ships May 24. The No. 1-seeded
Clark earned her second NCAA
singles crown during her four-
year career with a 6-2, 6-1 deci-
sion over Brewer.
Clark became the second Em-
ory player in program history to
win two national championships,
joining Mary Ellen Gordon (2003
and 2004). Clark and Gordon
are two of three Eagles to have
national titles to their credit with
Lorne McManigle (2009) the
other.
Clark closes out her college
career in singles with a record of
108-21 with her victory ranking
second all-time on the Emory
chart behind Gordons 115 victo-
ries.
by Carla Parker
Applications are now being ac-
cepted for DeKalb Countys first co-ed
special needs cheerleading team.
CheerTyme All-Stars of Georgia is
inviting elementary and middle school
aged students with physical disabilities
to be a part of its competitive cheer
team, Lightning Storm. The team will
do all of the physical activities as the
other CheerTyme teams do, such as
jumping, tumbling and dancing.
Lisa Woodard, CheerTyme All-
Stars owner and head coach, said
CheerTyme started the team to give
children with physical disabilities an
outlet to do the same activities as
able children.
Were putting something in the
community that would also satisfy the
physical needs, abilities and self-es-
teem that the normal kids get, Wood-
ard said. Even with disabilities I think
they can be just as vibrant.
The team will take up to 10 boys
and girls that attend a public school.
CheerTyme began taking applications
June 1 and the first class will be held
July 1. The first showcase will be held
in October.
Woodard said the cheerleading
team with give these children physi-
cal fitness, build self-esteem and help
them find motor skills.
Its going to allow them to see that
they can do normal stuff that the other
[children] are doing, she said.
For more information, visit www.
cheertymeallstarsofga.com, or contact
Shatavia Richardson at (678) 768-
8530 or email her at Shatavia@cheer-
tymeallstarsofga.com.
Emory womens tennis wins D-III national title
CheerTyme to start special needs team
Agnes Scott College frst baseman Ashley Monsrud was named a Third Team
CoSIDA Academic All American.
Emory womens tennis team won its sixth national title in program history May 21.
CheerTyme All-Stars of Georgia are creating a co-ed cheerleading team for students with
special needs.
SPORTS
Decatur Bulldogs
West seniors, east juniors win baseball all-star game
The annual DeKalb County All-
Star Classic baseball games featured
a blowout and a close game at the
Georgia State University Baseball
Complex May 27.
The Junior All-Star game was a
blowout as the East Junior All-Stars
defeated the West Junior All-Stars
16-7. The series is now tied 1-1.
Redan catcher DeAnthony Bak-
er, the East MVP, had a perfect out-
ing behind the plate (3-for-3) with
four RBIs to lead the East all-stars.
Baker, who had five plate appear-
ances, scored three runs and walked
twice. He also played the catcher
position in all eight innings.
The East jumped out to a 7-0
lead in the first two innings, scoring
four in the first on a two-run double
by Redans James Nelson, and RBI
singles by Baker and Arabia Moun-
tains Jakobi Meyers.
With the bases loaded, Baker
drove in two runs on a single in the
second inning and starting pitcher
Jake Lovvorn grounded out to score
Nelson to give the East a 7-0 lead.
Two errors by the East led to a
West score in the fourth inning after
Lakesides Will Cosby hit a single.
The East extended the lead to
10-1 on back-to-back RBI doubles
by Baker and Lovvorn and a run
scoring single by Stephensons Te-
Kwann Whyte in the bottom of the
fourth inning.
The West answered with two
runs in the top of the fifth following
a leadoff single by Columbias Justin
Washington and a double by Dun-
woodys Kevin Smith. Consecutive
groundouts by Dunwoodys Chase
Hawkins and Columbias Jalen At-
terburry made it a10-3 game.
The East extended the lead to
13-3 in the sixth inning on a three-
run rally with the bases loaded.
RBI singles by Tuckers Tyler
Toombs and Lovvorn in the seventh
and a sacrifice fly by Armstrong ex-
tended the lead to 16-3.
The West scored four runs in the
top of the ninth, with three runs on
a bases-loaded double by Decaturs
Luke Bumgardner and another on
a Trent Nash RBI single to bring the
final score to 16-7.
Lovvorn was the winning pitcher,
going three scoreless innings and
was 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
Bumgardner finished the day with
a 2-4 performance at the plate and
three RBI to earn the West MVP
award.
In the senior game, the West Se-
niors evened the series at 1-1 with
an 8-5 victory over the East. The
East jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the
first inning on a double by Redans
Daren Osby to score Stephensons
Harrison Moore.
The West answered in the bottom
of the first inning as Cedar Groves
Deion Sellers walked to start the
inning. Sellers, the new DeKalb
County and Georgia record holder
for steals (63), stole second base to
get into scoring position.
Sellers scored on a hit by Druid
Hills Emaeus Thomas to tie the
game at 1-1. Chamblees Drew
Henry gave the West a 2-1 lead in
the second inning as he singled then
scored on a wild pitch.
Chamblees Jared McKay ex-
tended the lead to 3-1 in the fourth
inning on a sacrifice fly to score
Dunwoodys Kyle Smith. A throw-
ing error on a sacrifice bunt by Co-
lumbias William Belcher allowed
Chamblees Malik Jones to score to
give the West a 4-1 advantage in the
fifth inning.
An error and a RBI single by
Jones scored two more runs for the
West in the sixth inning for a 6-1
West lead.
The East cut the led to 6-3 in
the eighth inning, but the West an-
swered on a RBI single by Belcher
and three East errors to make it an
8-3 game.
Zach Hayden of Arabia Moun-
tain and Dorsey had back-to-back
RBI triples to cut the lead to 8-5
before Lakesides Bobby Tippett
coaxed a fly ball out to end the
game.
McKay took home the MVP
award after going 1-1 with a sac-
rifice fly, 1 RBI and pitching two
scoreless innings.
Stephensons Jalen Robinson
won the East MVP award with 2-3
performance including a stolen base
and run scored.
Some of DeKalbs top senior baseball players took the feld for the last time in their high school careers at the 12th annual DeKalb County Senior All-Star Baseball Classic.
Decaturs Luke Bumgardner (West) and Redans DeAnthony Baker (East) won MVP
honors in the Junior All-Star Classic.
Chamblees Jared McKay (West) and Stephensons Jalen Robinson (East) took home MVP
honors in the DeKalb County Senior All-Star Classic.
LOCAL NEWS
The Junior League of DeKalb
County (JLD) inducted 21 new
members on May 20 at its annual
dinner.
This years provisional classis
a phenomenal group of women
and the Junior League of DeKalb
County is very lucky to have them
as active members, said Michele
NeSmith, former Membership
Development chairwoman. Aside
from their impressive resumes
that boast doctors, lawyers, top
administrators and managers in all
levels of government, the private
sector and in secondary and col-
lege education, the new members
are also very involved in commu-
nity service, having served on and
volunteered with boards, founda-
tions, PTAs and other charitable
organizations.
Commenting about her provi-
sional experience, new member
Brandi Patten said, All of the
women in our group have very
unique and special gifts to bring
to the table and are excited about
sharing those gifts. When you
have a group of women with the
same common goal in mind, it is
a pretty powerful thing to watch.
Im proud to be a part of these
women.
Patten, along with Alecia Asb-
bury, received the Spirit of the
League Award, which is given an-
nually to the member of the pro-
visional class that best represents
her class.
In that there were so many
outstanding women in this class,
we voted to give this prestigious
award to two members who have
distinguished themselves by going
above and beyond the provisional
training requirements, NeSmith
said.
Members of the 2014 class
include Alecia Asbury, Heather
Bond, Amy Durrence, Meghan
Farley, Faye Fields, Erica Flack,
Emily Foster, Laura Goldsmith,
Kenya Johnson, Kelli Kemp,
Shondeana Morris, Brandi Pat-
ten, Nina Ray, Kim Salter, Emily
Simmons, Amy Stuckey, Michelle
Tomlinson-Johnson, Betsy Turn-
er, Brannon Traxler, Becky Vin-
son and Shawnda Williams.
JLD will host an open house for
new prospective members on July
27, from 3 to 5 p.m. at its head-
quarters, the Mary Gay House, in
Decatur. For more information
about becoming a member, visit
www.jldekalb.org.
Junior League of DeKalb County
inducts 2014 new member class
Junior League of DeKalb 2013-2014 provisional class members with Taylor Dozier, North
DeKalb Malls general manager at the North DeKalb Community Garden.
New Junior League of DeKalb active members at the groups annual dinner on May 20.
Photos provided

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